Bishop Heber High School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 6 years running; at that rate its £115k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cheshire West and Chester · Secondary · Foundation 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 | £6.9m | £6.8m | +£50k | £590k | 1,303 |
2019-20 | £7.3m | £7.1m | +£148k | £738k | 1,306 |
2020-21 | £7.2m | £7.3m | -£136k | £602k | 1,318 |
2021-22 | £7.7m | £7.8m | -£40k | £562k | 1,291 |
2022-23 | £8.2m | £8.4m | -£248k | £314k | 1,279 |
2023-24 | £8.7m | £8.7m | -£18k | £296k | 1,258 |
2024-25 | £8.9m | £9.1m | -£159k | £137k | 1,282 |
2025-26 | £9.6m | £9.6m | -£22k | £115k | 1,293 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary 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 13% of them. It spends £7,409 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,315.
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 | £4,653 | £4,304 | £4,004–£4,464 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £499 | £673 | £482–£899 |
Supply staff | £41 | £88 | £51–£150 |
Admin and clerical | £577 | £499 | £354–£540 |
Premises | £289 | £387 | £339–£489 |
Energy | £110 | £128 | £111–£149 |
Learning resources & ICT | £304 | £557 | £439–£705 |
Bought-in services | £68 | £81 | £36–£141 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bristol Free School Large reserves
- Queen Elizabeth High School Large reserves
- Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School Large reserves
- Davison Church of England High School for Girls, Worthing Heading for deficit
- Priestnall School In deficit
- Painsley Catholic College Healthy
- Shelley College, A Share Academy Large reserves
- Oathall Community College Healthy
- Kingsbridge Academy Large reserves
- St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham Large reserves
- St Peter's Church of England Aided School Heading for deficit
- St Hilda's Church of England High School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.8m | £6,836 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £244k | £189 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £173k | £134 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £720k | £557 |
Money raised by parents
BISHOP HEBER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 516517, Registered) raised £22k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £22k | £7k |
2024-09 | £70 | £0 |
2023-09 | £58 | £1k |
2022-09 | £493 | £0 |
2021-09 | £450 | £0 |
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.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- 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 Bishop Heber High School · All Cheshire West and Chester school finances