Batchwood School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £517k in reserve, 16% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hertfordshire · 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 | £1.7m | £1.7m | -£13k | £28k | 72 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£119k | £147k | 78 |
2020-21 | £2.1m | £1.8m | +£293k | £441k | 89 |
2021-22 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£140k | £580k | 93 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.5m | -£57k | £523k | 101 |
2023-24 | £2.7m | £2.8m | -£95k | £429k | 107 |
2024-25 | £3.0m | £2.9m | +£35k | £463k | 111 |
2025-26 | £3.3m | £3.2m | +£53k | £517k | 111 |
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 67% of them. It spends £29,003 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,989.
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 | £15,328 | £10,084 | £9,420–£11,583 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £5,512 | £9,145 | £6,659–£12,426 |
Supply staff | £667 | £437 | £156–£1,133 |
Admin and clerical | £1,426 | £1,123 | £700–£1,444 |
Premises | £1,364 | £1,329 | £1,090–£1,721 |
Energy | £138 | £408 | £332–£551 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,221 | £762 | £567–£1,015 |
Bought-in services | £1,602 | £410 | £243–£731 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Barndale School In deficit
- The Beech Academy Large reserves
- Harford Manor School, Norwich Large reserves
- Halcyon Way School Large reserves
- Quest Academy Large reserves
- Yeoman Park Academy Tight
- Southfield School Large reserves
- Chelveston Road School Large reserves
- Hexham Priory School Heading for deficit
- Coppice Academy Large reserves
- Bader Academy Large reserves
- Fiveways Special School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.2m | £29,250 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.7m | £15,127 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £78k | £704 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £42k | £377 |
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 £1,602 a pupil, against a typical £410 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,221 a pupil, against a typical £762 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £15,328 a pupil, against a typical £10,084 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 Batchwood School · All Hertfordshire school finances