Oakley School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £53k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Kent · 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 | £3.5m | £3.6m | -£115k | £391k | 212 |
2019-20 | £3.9m | £3.7m | +£175k | £566k | 220 |
2020-21 | £4.1m | £3.9m | +£193k | £759k | 226 |
2021-22 | £4.3m | £4.3m | +£12k | £770k | 232 |
2022-23 | £4.5m | £4.5m | +£66k | £837k | 232 |
2023-24 | £4.8m | £5.1m | -£261k | £575k | 237 |
2024-25 | £5.7m | £5.9m | -£194k | £381k | 223 |
2025-26 | £6.4m | £6.7m | -£328k | £53k | 224 |
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 10% of them. It spends £30,113 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,695.
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 | £11,761 | £10,165 | £8,811–£11,890 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,818 | £9,923 | £6,461–£12,827 |
Supply staff | £1,372 | £389 | £144–£1,070 |
Admin and clerical | £1,245 | £910 | £823–£1,328 |
Premises | £1,188 | £1,459 | £1,017–£1,899 |
Energy | £306 | £362 | £201–£491 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,005 | £815 | £632–£1,022 |
Bought-in services | £1,104 | £607 | £218–£1,256 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Walton Hall Academy Large reserves
- Orchard Manor School Healthy
- Lansbury Bridge School Large reserves
- Ashmount School In deficit
- The Bridge School Tight
- Newfield School Large reserves
- Green Lane Community Special School Healthy
- Morecambe Road School Healthy
- The Bridge School Tight
- Dove House Academy Large reserves
- Pinewood School Large reserves
- Osborne School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.3m | £28,195 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.0m | £13,259 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £123k | £548 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £215k | £959 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF OAKLEY SPECIAL SCHOOL (charity 1138118, Registered) raised £24k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-03 | £24k | £10k |
2024-03 | £13k | £19k |
2023-03 | £14k | £9k |
2022-03 | £8k | £8k |
2021-03 | £6k | £1k |
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.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,372 a pupil, against a typical £389 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Oakley School · All Kent school finances