Ridgewood Community High School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £511k in reserve, 8% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · 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 | £3.1m | £2.9m | +£192k | £284k | 131 |
2019-20 | £3.3m | £3.2m | +£85k | £370k | 152 |
2020-21 | £3.6m | £3.6m | +£5k | £375k | 168 |
2021-22 | £4.0m | £3.8m | +£171k | £546k | 163 |
2022-23 | £4.4m | £4.3m | +£115k | £661k | 182 |
2023-24 | £5.0m | £5.1m | -£98k | £563k | 186 |
2024-25 | £5.6m | £5.5m | +£112k | £675k | 190 |
2025-26 | £6.5m | £6.6m | -£163k | £511k | 192 |
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 33% of them. It spends £34,611 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £28,044.
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 | £8,606 | £10,200 | £9,217–£12,129 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £8,757 | £10,725 | £6,435–£12,619 |
Supply staff | £684 | £1,018 | £258–£1,613 |
Admin and clerical | £1,214 | £976 | £719–£1,524 |
Premises | £9,110 | £1,365 | £1,055–£1,810 |
Energy | £762 | £380 | £280–£507 |
Learning resources & ICT | £2,225 | £714 | £584–£850 |
Bought-in services | £1,446 | £395 | £148–£1,469 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Newman School Large reserves
- Barbara Priestman Academy Large reserves
- Penn Fields School Large reserves
- Ganton School Large reserves
- Mary Rose Academy Healthy
- Hamilton School In deficit
- Hayfield School Tight
- Priory Woods School Heading for deficit
- Evergreen Primary School Large reserves
- Oakfield Park School Large reserves
- Portland Academy Large reserves
- Tettenhall Wood School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.4m | £33,420 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.7m | £13,839 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £126k | £657 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £65k | £340 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL (charity 1147903, Registered) raised £77k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-03 | £77k | £73k |
2024-03 | £47k | £60k |
2023-03 | £61k | £53k |
2022-03 | £50k | £37k |
2021-03 | £36k | £35k |
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.
- Spending on premises is £9,110 a pupil, against a typical £1,365 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £2,225 a pupil, against a typical £714 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £762 a pupil, against a typical £380 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 Ridgewood Community High School · All Lancashire school finances