Linwood School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £2.7m, 15% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 4 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole · 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 | £8.3m | £8.3m | -£9k | £839k | 322 |
2019-20 | £9.0m | £9.6m | -£607k | £232k | 351 |
2020-21 | £10.1m | £10.6m | -£485k | -£253k | 369 |
2021-22 | £11.3m | £11.1m | +£164k | -£89k | 387 |
2022-23 | £12.2m | £12.3m | -£52k | -£141k | 395 |
2023-24 | £13.1m | £13.8m | -£685k | -£826k | 386 |
2024-25 | £14.6m | £15.8m | -£1.2m | -£2.0m | 411 |
2025-26 | £18.0m | £18.6m | -£617k | -£2.7m | 437 |
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 0% of them. It spends £42,517 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,529.
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 | £15,253 | £10,121 | £9,157–£11,640 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £12,932 | £9,133 | £6,987–£10,611 |
Supply staff | £351 | £798 | £142–£1,626 |
Admin and clerical | £2,250 | £1,165 | £896–£1,473 |
Premises | £2,001 | £1,239 | £995–£1,608 |
Energy | £279 | £366 | £248–£410 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,773 | £788 | £540–£1,099 |
Bought-in services | £4,396 | £435 | £275–£1,007 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Severndale Specialist Academy Healthy
- Dorothy Goodman School Hinckley Large reserves
- Market Field School Large reserves
- West Oaks School Healthy
- Arbour Vale School Large reserves
- Wyre Forest School Large reserves
- Ellesmere College Healthy
- The Wyvern School (Buxford) Large reserves
- Crowdys Hill School Healthy
- Broomhill Bank School Tight
- Castle Hill High School Healthy
- Samuel Cody School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £16.9m | £38,638 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £10.3m | £23,499 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £177k | £405 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £1.1m | £2,466 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on bought-in services is £4,396 a pupil, against a typical £435 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,773 a pupil, against a typical £788 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,250 a pupil, against a typical £1,165 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,001 a pupil, against a typical £1,239 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 Linwood School · All Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole school finances