Dorchester Learning Centre: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £256k in reserve, 9% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Dorset · Not applicable · Pupil referral unit.
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 | £1.3m | £1.3m | +£45k | £18k | 46 |
2019-20 | £1.4m | £1.4m | +£40k | £58k | 58 |
2020-21 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£85k | £143k | 60 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.4m | +£179k | £323k | 67 |
2022-23 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£110k | £432k | 67 |
2023-24 | £2.1m | £2.1m | -£53k | £379k | 70 |
2024-25 | £2.8m | £2.6m | +£139k | £518k | 95 |
2025-26 | £2.9m | £3.1m | -£262k | £256k | 88 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 40% of them. It spends £35,470 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £29,956.
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 | £15,973 | £12,676 | £9,838–£16,598 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £10,957 | £5,496 | £4,312–£7,429 |
Supply staff | £1,242 | £817 | £420–£1,999 |
Admin and clerical | £2,645 | £1,400 | £1,069–£2,330 |
Premises | £1,085 | £1,168 | £910–£1,817 |
Energy | £175 | £349 | £197–£611 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,546 | £1,059 | £733–£1,677 |
Bought-in services | £546 | £1,345 | £244–£2,646 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Phoenix Park Academy Large reserves
- Youth Challenge Pru Healthy
- Enrich Academy Large reserves
- Oswaldtwistle School Large reserves
- New Horizons Academy Large reserves
- The Quay School Large reserves
- The Acorns School In deficit
- Compass School In deficit
- The Vireo Academy Large reserves
- Titan St Georges Academy Large reserves
- iCollege Alternative Provision Healthy
- Nine Maidens Alternative Provision Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.9m | £32,655 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £677k | £7,693 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £43k | £485 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | -£14k | £-159 |
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 support staff (e.g. tas) is £10,957 a pupil, against a typical £5,496 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,645 a pupil, against a typical £1,400 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 Dorchester Learning Centre · All Dorset school finances