The Dales School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £105k, 2% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Northumberland · 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 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£98k | £111k | 98 |
2019-20 | £2.9m | £2.8m | +£22k | £134k | 141 |
2020-21 | £3.1m | £3.1m | -£46k | £87k | 148 |
2021-22 | £3.5m | £3.5m | +£10k | £196k | 169 |
2022-23 | £4.0m | £4.3m | -£318k | -£122k | 188 |
2023-24 | £4.8m | £4.9m | -£123k | -£245k | 193 |
2024-25 | £5.5m | £5.2m | +£266k | £21k | 212 |
2025-26 | £6.2m | £6.3m | -£127k | -£105k | 236 |
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 13% of them. It spends £26,780 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,570.
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 | £9,579 | £10,472 | £9,286–£11,817 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £10,968 | £8,286 | £6,668–£11,017 |
Supply staff | £376 | £580 | £80–£1,540 |
Admin and clerical | £664 | £932 | £655–£1,459 |
Premises | £1,371 | £1,250 | £1,006–£1,799 |
Energy | £268 | £310 | £216–£418 |
Learning resources & ICT | £939 | £650 | £515–£1,169 |
Bought-in services | £1,589 | £499 | £157–£1,907 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Beechcliffe Special School Large reserves
- Victoria School Large reserves
- Downs View Special School Heading for deficit
- Churchill Park Complex Needs School Large reserves
- Childwall Abbey School Tight
- Epinay Business and Enterprise School Large reserves
- Seven Hills School Large reserves
- Hope Wood Academy Large reserves
- St George's School Large reserves
- Evergreen Primary School Large reserves
- St Martins School Large reserves
- Foxfield School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.2m | £26,110 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.3m | £13,864 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £209k | £884 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £106k | £450 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
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 Dales School · All Northumberland school finances