Harlow Fields School and College: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £300k, 6% 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). Essex · 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 | £2.9m | £2.9m | -£52k | £165k | 151 |
2019-20 | £3.0m | £3.1m | -£81k | £84k | 155 |
2020-21 | £3.0m | £3.0m | +£31k | £115k | 160 |
2021-22 | £3.2m | £3.2m | -£21k | £94k | 158 |
2022-23 | £3.5m | £3.6m | -£117k | -£23k | 153 |
2023-24 | £4.2m | £4.4m | -£189k | -£212k | 156 |
2024-25 | £4.9m | £5.3m | -£413k | -£626k | 177 |
2025-26 | £5.4m | £5.1m | +£326k | -£300k | 213 |
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 3% of them. It spends £23,995 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £29,739.
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 | £9,547 | £10,686 | £9,121–£11,798 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,401 | £10,739 | £8,795–£12,770 |
Supply staff | £56 | £185 | £20–£654 |
Admin and clerical | £827 | £1,371 | £815–£1,738 |
Premises | £1,204 | £1,524 | £1,256–£1,907 |
Energy | £474 | £327 | £260–£443 |
Learning resources & ICT | £302 | £941 | £559–£1,235 |
Bought-in services | £977 | £739 | £476–£3,087 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Manor Green Primary School Heading for deficit
- Shepherds Down Special School Large reserves
- Brookfields School Large reserves
- Furze Down School Healthy
- Cedar Hall School Large reserves
- Palatine Primary School In deficit
- Exeter House Special School Tight
- Wigston Birkett House Community Special School Large reserves
- James Rennie School Large reserves
- Beaucroft Foundation School Healthy
- Daventry Hill School Large reserves
- Castle Wood Special School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.4m | £25,257 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.2m | £14,986 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £58k | £270 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £57k | £267 |
Money raised by parents
HARLOW FIELDS SCHOOL & COLLEGE PTA (charity 1206744, Registered) raised £18k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £18k | £15k |
2024-12 | £8k | £3k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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.
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