Ridgeway School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £252k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bedford · Not applicable · Community special school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £1.9m | £2.1m | -£139k | £73k | 75 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£90k | £163k | 76 |
2020-21 | £2.2m | £2.2m | +£10k | £174k | 80 |
2021-22 | £2.5m | £2.5m | +£38k | £212k | 90 |
2022-23 | £2.6m | £2.8m | -£201k | £10k | 95 |
2023-24 | £3.1m | £3.1m | -£34k | -£23k | 104 |
2024-25 | £3.7m | £3.5m | +£187k | £164k | 122 |
2025-26 | £4.2m | £4.1m | +£88k | £252k | 125 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special schools outside London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 30% of them. It spends £32,980 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £31,485.
This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median
Show the comparison as a table
| Spending per pupil | This school | Similar schools (median) | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
Teachers | £8,083 | £10,581 | £9,153–£11,714 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £16,038 | £11,360 | £9,433–£14,537 |
Supply staff | £0 | £255 | £129–£796 |
Admin and clerical | £1,819 | £1,316 | £1,031–£1,764 |
Premises | £1,444 | £1,419 | £1,200–£2,490 |
Energy | £319 | £403 | £262–£525 |
Learning resources & ICT | £932 | £933 | £725–£1,220 |
Bought-in services | £1,974 | £381 | £191–£1,527 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Woodfield School In deficit
- Fitzwaryn School Large reserves
- Hob Moor Oaks Academy Tight
- Pictor Academy Tight
- Glyne Gap School Large reserves
- Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy Large reserves
- Lonsdale School Large reserves
- Rowan Tree Primary School Large reserves
- Brooklands School Heading for deficit
- Saxon Hill Academy Large reserves
- Castle Hill School Large reserves
- Presfield High School and Specialist College Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.1m | £32,997 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.4m | £19,213 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £39k | £313 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £107k | £853 |
Money raised by parents
RIDGEWAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1055071, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £3k | £10k |
2024-08 | £11k | £4k |
2023-08 | £1k | £1k |
2022-08 | £3k | £18k |
2021-08 | £6k | £1k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,974 a pupil, against a typical £381 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £16,038 a pupil, against a typical £11,360 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
Check these figures
Every figure here comes from the school's published return to the DfE. Check it on the DfE benchmarking page for this school, and see how the status is worked out.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Ridgeway School · All Bedford school finances