The Astley Cooper School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.2m in reserve, 14% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · 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 | £4.0m | £3.6m | +£366k | £69k | 566 |
2019-20 | £4.4m | £4.1m | +£337k | £406k | 673 |
2020-21 | £5.4m | £4.9m | +£485k | £891k | 765 |
2021-22 | £6.2m | £5.5m | +£745k | £1.6m | 857 |
2022-23 | £7.0m | £6.7m | +£319k | £2.0m | 913 |
2023-24 | £7.7m | £8.0m | -£273k | £1.7m | 965 |
2024-25 | £8.9m | £9.0m | -£58k | £1.6m | 947 |
2025-26 | £8.3m | £8.8m | -£454k | £1.2m | 914 |
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 70% of them. It spends £9,626 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,915.
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 | £5,629 | £4,447 | £4,069–£4,824 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,115 | £894 | £623–£1,169 |
Supply staff | £192 | £168 | £91–£348 |
Admin and clerical | £494 | £417 | £295–£557 |
Premises | £706 | £390 | £351–£445 |
Energy | £156 | £155 | £128–£196 |
Learning resources & ICT | £764 | £483 | £361–£605 |
Bought-in services | £77 | £109 | £66–£202 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Thornhill Community Academy, A Share Academy Large reserves
- The Blue Coat School Basingstoke Large reserves
- Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology Large reserves
- Belmont Community School Large reserves
- Ridgeway Academy Large reserves
- King's Leadership Academy Bolton Large reserves
- The Westwood Academy Tight
- Meols Cop High School Large reserves
- Trinity Academy Large reserves
- Poltair School Large reserves
- Haileybury Turnford Large reserves
- Paxman Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.4m | £9,210 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £263k | £287 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £343k | £375 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £284k | £310 |
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 £706 a pupil, against a typical £390 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £764 a pupil, against a typical £483 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,629 a pupil, against a typical £4,447 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 Astley Cooper School · All Hertfordshire school finances