Shorefields School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £304k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · 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 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£49k | £222k | 132 |
2019-20 | £3.1m | £3.4m | -£287k | -£65k | 140 |
2020-21 | £3.4m | £3.2m | +£251k | £186k | 145 |
2021-22 | £3.4m | £3.3m | +£161k | £347k | 148 |
2022-23 | £4.0m | £3.9m | +£80k | £426k | 153 |
2023-24 | £4.4m | £4.5m | -£34k | £393k | 159 |
2024-25 | £5.0m | £4.9m | +£53k | £446k | 162 |
2025-26 | £5.3m | £5.4m | -£142k | £304k | 177 |
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 10% of them. It spends £30,564 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,419.
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 | £9,782 | £9,734 | £8,715–£11,029 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £13,315 | £9,311 | £6,465–£11,224 |
Supply staff | £430 | £919 | £165–£1,542 |
Admin and clerical | £1,040 | £1,039 | £727–£1,215 |
Premises | £1,492 | £1,487 | £962–£1,696 |
Energy | £532 | £342 | £219–£424 |
Learning resources & ICT | £750 | £754 | £530–£1,220 |
Bought-in services | £826 | £393 | £137–£1,075 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Lampard Community School Large reserves
- Meadowgate Academy Large reserves
- Crosby High School Large reserves
- The Birches School Healthy
- Nethergate Academy Large reserves
- Redwood Park Academy Large reserves
- Saxon Mount School Large reserves
- Goldwyn School Large reserves
- Woodfield School Large reserves
- St Clare's School Large reserves
- The Dame Ellen Pinsent School Large reserves
- Hayfield School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.1m | £28,766 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.0m | £16,994 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £120k | £680 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £177k | £998 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Spending on energy is £532 a pupil, against a typical £342 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £13,315 a pupil, against a typical £9,311 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 Shorefields School · All Essex school finances