St Benedict's Catholic College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £396k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · Secondary · Voluntary aided 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 | £4.8m | £4.8m | -£24k | £296k | 861 |
2019-20 | £5.3m | £5.4m | -£83k | £213k | 878 |
2020-21 | £5.2m | £5.1m | +£40k | £253k | 886 |
2021-22 | £5.7m | £5.8m | -£21k | £233k | 879 |
2022-23 | £5.7m | £5.7m | +£58k | £291k | 887 |
2023-24 | £6.3m | £6.3m | -£12k | £278k | 903 |
2024-25 | £6.7m | £6.6m | +£45k | £324k | 891 |
2025-26 | £7.0m | £6.9m | +£73k | £396k | 905 |
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 30% of them. It spends £7,615 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,192.
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 | £4,047 | £4,371 | £4,065–£4,529 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £951 | £561 | £423–£670 |
Supply staff | £26 | £87 | £27–£138 |
Admin and clerical | £629 | £444 | £412–£517 |
Premises | £393 | £402 | £351–£463 |
Energy | £67 | £132 | £106–£160 |
Learning resources & ICT | £559 | £558 | £395–£654 |
Bought-in services | £285 | £117 | £63–£153 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- All Saints Church of England Academy Large reserves
- All Hallows Catholic High School Large reserves
- Devonport High School for Girls Heading for deficit
- Gillotts School Large reserves
- Rugby High School Heading for deficit
- Borden Grammar School Large reserves
- Ribston Hall High School Large reserves
- Kendrick School Large reserves
- Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School Heading for deficit
- Woolmer Hill School Large reserves
- Broughton High School Large reserves
- Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.3m | £6,994 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £220k | £243 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £139k | £154 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £688k | £760 |
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 bought-in services is £285 a pupil, against a typical £117 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £951 a pupil, against a typical £561 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £629 a pupil, against a typical £444 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 St Benedict's Catholic College · All Essex school finances