The Spires College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.4m in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Torbay · 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 | £5.5m | £6.0m | -£464k | -£574k | 979 |
2019-20 | £6.4m | £6.6m | -£142k | -£716k | 1,092 |
2020-21 | £7.6m | £6.8m | +£786k | £70k | 1,131 |
2021-22 | £8.0m | £7.1m | +£907k | £977k | 1,109 |
2022-23 | £8.4m | £7.9m | +£525k | £1.5m | 1,159 |
2023-24 | £9.2m | £9.2m | -£17k | £1.5m | 1,152 |
2024-25 | £10.3m | £10.0m | +£223k | £1.7m | 1,131 |
2025-26 | £10.2m | £10.6m | -£348k | £1.4m | 1,154 |
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 83% of them. It spends £9,173 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,733.
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 | £5,158 | £4,386 | £4,208–£4,619 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,122 | £832 | £677–£1,010 |
Supply staff | £58 | £120 | £55–£214 |
Admin and clerical | £491 | £441 | £328–£507 |
Premises | £1,216 | £372 | £334–£479 |
Energy | £42 | £136 | £110–£167 |
Learning resources & ICT | £424 | £435 | £336–£591 |
Bought-in services | £64 | £90 | £50–£214 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Archbishop Blanch CofE High School Large reserves
- Sir Jonathan North Girls' College Large reserves
- Lyndon School Large reserves
- Etone College Heading for deficit
- Sir Thomas Wharton Academy Large reserves
- Bilton School Large reserves
- Audenshaw School Large reserves
- Springfield School Large reserves
- The Belvedere Academy Large reserves
- Hadley Learning Community - Secondary Phase Large reserves
- Hilbre High School Healthy
- Glossopdale School and Sixth Form Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.2m | £8,817 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £526k | £455 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £349k | £303 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £360k | £312 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Spending on premises is £1,216 a pupil, against a typical £372 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,122 a pupil, against a typical £832 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,158 a pupil, against a typical £4,386 for similar schools. What's behind that?
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 The Spires College · All Torbay school finances