Pendle Vale College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £838k in reserve, 8% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 4 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · Secondary · Community 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 | £7.3m | £7.3m | -£22k | £755k | 1,044 |
2019-20 | £7.5m | £7.5m | +£2k | £757k | 1,067 |
2020-21 | £8.0m | £7.6m | +£455k | £1.2m | 1,074 |
2021-22 | £8.3m | £7.8m | +£488k | £1.7m | 1,068 |
2022-23 | £8.7m | £9.2m | -£426k | £1.3m | 1,064 |
2023-24 | £9.4m | £9.6m | -£269k | £1.0m | 1,056 |
2024-25 | £10.1m | £10.1m | -£48k | £957k | 1,042 |
2025-26 | £10.4m | £10.5m | -£119k | £838k | 1,047 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary 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 50% of them. It spends £10,065 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,171.
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 | £4,801 | £4,375 | £4,127–£4,667 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,056 | £1,004 | £851–£1,193 |
Supply staff | £215 | £169 | £81–£241 |
Admin and clerical | £534 | £428 | £349–£528 |
Premises | £1,430 | £491 | £300–£887 |
Energy | £312 | £169 | £114–£197 |
Learning resources & ICT | £405 | £461 | £391–£600 |
Bought-in services | £314 | £110 | £50–£172 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ken Stimpson Academy Large reserves
- Co-op Academy Priesthorpe Healthy
- Woodham Academy Large reserves
- Sir William Ramsay School Healthy
- The Crestwood School Large reserves
- South Wirral High School Large reserves
- Bedminster Down School Healthy
- Oasis Academy Sholing Large reserves
- Headlands School In deficit
- Westbourne Academy Tight
- Lealands High School Heading for deficit
- The Highcrest Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.1m | £9,605 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £423k | £404 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £386k | £369 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £362k | £346 |
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 premises is £1,430 a pupil, against a typical £491 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £314 a pupil, against a typical £110 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £312 a pupil, against a typical £169 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 Pendle Vale College · All Lancashire school finances