Bellingham Middle School and Sports College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £120k in reserve, 18% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Northumberland · Middle deemed 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 | £707k | £790k | -£83k | £9k | 95 |
2019-20 | £703k | £721k | -£17k | -£8k | 86 |
2020-21 | £688k | £672k | +£17k | £8k | 83 |
2021-22 | £701k | £642k | +£59k | £67k | 71 |
2022-23 | £672k | £720k | -£47k | £20k | 71 |
2023-24 | £726k | £662k | +£64k | £84k | 66 |
2024-25 | £744k | £726k | +£18k | £103k | 51 |
2025-26 | £666k | £648k | +£17k | £120k | 46 |
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 97% of them. It spends £14,094 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,287.
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 | £6,276 | £5,129 | £4,213–£5,867 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,977 | £932 | £726–£1,165 |
Supply staff | £928 | £176 | £14–£319 |
Admin and clerical | £702 | £489 | £377–£794 |
Premises | £1,149 | £483 | £231–£706 |
Energy | £545 | £215 | £139–£341 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,088 | £522 | £345–£742 |
Bought-in services | £406 | £192 | £74–£373 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Cheshire Studio School Tight
- Leeds Jewish Free School Large reserves
- Futures Institute Banbury In deficit
- Somerset Studio School In deficit
- IKB Academy Healthy
- Bilbrook CofE (VC) Middle School Large reserves
- The Wisbech Academy In deficit
- Monkseaton High School In deficit
- Samuel King's School In deficit
- Solway Community School In deficit
- UTC Swindon In deficit
- Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £645k | £14,027 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £32k | £691 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £29k | £638 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £21k | £446 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 52% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £928 a pupil, against a typical £176 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £545 a pupil, against a typical £215 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,149 a pupil, against a typical £483 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 Bellingham Middle School and Sports College · All Northumberland school finances