The Meadows School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £688k in reserve, 11% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2023-24, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Sandwell · Not applicable · Community special school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2023-24
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2023-24
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £4.0m | £3.9m | +£72k | £365k | 166 |
2019-20 | £4.3m | £4.3m | +£7k | £372k | 177 |
2020-21 | £4.6m | £4.4m | +£216k | £588k | 185 |
2021-22 | £5.2m | £5.2m | -£43k | £546k | 207 |
2022-23 | £6.0m | £5.9m | +£81k | £626k | 214 |
2023-24 | £6.3m | £6.2m | +£62k | £688k | 215 |
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 63% of them. It spends £28,979 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 | £7,909 | £9,542 | £8,796–£10,916 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £10,099 | £9,689 | £7,396–£10,980 |
Supply staff | £747 | £477 | £165–£1,403 |
Admin and clerical | £1,439 | £1,014 | £806–£1,430 |
Premises | £1,241 | £1,325 | £1,086–£1,755 |
Energy | £964 | £330 | £273–£407 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,300 | £740 | £492–£1,153 |
Bought-in services | £2,511 | £471 | £295–£931 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ravenshall School In deficit
- Kingfisher Special School Large reserves
- Elleray Park School Healthy
- Pencalenick School Healthy
- Bamburgh School Large reserves
- The Parkside School, Norwich Large reserves
- Fred Nicholson School Large reserves
- John Grant School, Caister-on-Sea Large reserves
- Cliffdale Primary Academy Large reserves
- Chatsworth High School and Community College Healthy
- Cambridge Park Academy Large reserves
- Childwall Abbey School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2023-24
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.2m | £28,986 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £73k | £342 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £60k | £279 |
Money raised by parents
THE MEADOWS PTFA (charity 1214607, Registered)
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 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 bought-in services is £2,511 a pupil, against a typical £471 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £964 a pupil, against a typical £330 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,300 a pupil, against a typical £740 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 The Meadows School · All Sandwell school finances