Canterbury Campus and Lavender Campus: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £297k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Merton · 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 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£90k | £474k | 121 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.6m | -£242k | £232k | 112 |
2020-21 | £2.8m | £2.5m | +£280k | £512k | 77 |
2021-22 | £3.1m | £2.8m | +£255k | £767k | 94 |
2022-23 | £3.3m | £3.4m | -£71k | £696k | 119 |
2023-24 | £3.6m | £3.6m | -£12k | £684k | 102 |
2024-25 | £4.0m | £4.2m | -£127k | £557k | 100 |
2025-26 | £4.0m | £4.3m | -£260k | £297k | 97 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 47% of them. It spends £44,213 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £36,667.
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 | £22,569 | £17,667 | £14,507–£23,449 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,340 | £6,095 | £3,489–£9,050 |
Supply staff | £779 | £2,149 | £856–£4,225 |
Admin and clerical | £3,090 | £2,165 | £1,462–£3,712 |
Premises | £2,471 | £1,891 | £1,056–£3,071 |
Energy | £370 | £453 | £278–£648 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,413 | £1,081 | £777–£2,555 |
Bought-in services | £6,815 | £2,004 | £1,023–£3,419 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Haringey Learning Partnership In deficit
- Tunmarsh School In deficit
- The Skills Hub Large reserves
- The Helix Education Centre In deficit
- Wandsworth Hospital and Home Tuition Service Healthy
- Saffron Valley Collegiate Tight
- The Jubilee Academy Tight
- Sutton Tuition and Reintegration Service Large reserves
- Newhaven Pupil Referral Unit Healthy
- Ealing Alternative Provision Tight
- Orchardside School Heading for deficit
- Victoria Drive Primary Pupil Referral Unit Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.3m | £33,570 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.3m | £13,425 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £18k | £180 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £772k | £7,963 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 20% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £6,815 a pupil, against a typical £2,004 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 Canterbury Campus and Lavender Campus · All Merton school finances