Pilgrim Pathways School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £446k in reserve, 43% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cambridgeshire · 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 | £606k | £572k | +£35k | £87k | 30 |
2019-20 | £641k | £642k | -£657 | £86k | 22 |
2020-21 | £666k | £644k | +£22k | £108k | 19 |
2021-22 | £732k | £653k | +£79k | £186k | 36 |
2022-23 | £803k | £681k | +£122k | £309k | 36 |
2023-24 | £880k | £829k | +£51k | £360k | 28 |
2024-25 | £1.0m | £944k | +£65k | £425k | 31 |
2025-26 | £1.0m | £1.0m | +£21k | £446k | 33 |
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 83% of them. It spends £30,841 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £37,680.
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 | £28,101 | £18,815 | £15,310–£24,862 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £0 | £5,744 | £2,963–£8,999 |
Supply staff | £911 | £226 | £0–£2,048 |
Admin and clerical | £0 | £2,416 | £1,430–£3,627 |
Premises | £86 | £1,550 | £573–£2,009 |
Energy | £0 | £386 | £201–£662 |
Learning resources & ICT | £571 | £1,431 | £957–£2,192 |
Bought-in services | £766 | £752 | £301–£1,370 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- CP Riverside School Large reserves
- The Pendlebury Centre Healthy
- Roman Fields Academy Large reserves
- Laurus Grace Large reserves
- Hospital and Outreach Education Large reserves
- Ancora House School Large reserves
- OA Tunbridge Wells Healthy
- Coritani Academy Tight
- King's Leadership Phoenix Academy Tight
- Southampton Hospital School Large reserves
- Consilium Evolve Tight
- Will Adams Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.0m | £30,413 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £35k | £1,051 |
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 teachers is £28,101 a pupil, against a typical £18,815 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 Pilgrim Pathways School · All Cambridgeshire school finances