Orion Spires: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £399k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Kent · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ORION EDUCATION can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £3.8m | £3.9m | -£82k | £0 | 599 |
2019-20 | £4.4m | £4.2m | +£269k | £154k | 648 |
2020-21 | £4.6m | £4.4m | +£205k | £107k | 682 |
2021-22 | £4.8m | £4.6m | +£273k | £0 | 679 |
2022-23 | £5.4m | £4.8m | +£572k | £0 | 690 |
2023-24 | £5.8m | £5.6m | +£120k | £0 | 726 |
2024-25 | £6.2m | £6.0m | +£268k | £399k | 673 |
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 40% of them. It spends £8,857 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,195.
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 | £5,013 | £4,399 | £4,181–£5,071 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £706 | £949 | £675–£1,301 |
Supply staff | £119 | £204 | £45–£359 |
Admin and clerical | £520 | £460 | £373–£582 |
Premises | £591 | £477 | £319–£566 |
Energy | £421 | £198 | £134–£247 |
Learning resources & ICT | £591 | £451 | £363–£651 |
Bought-in services | £6 | £68 | £30–£190 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Staffordshire University Academy Large reserves
- Hetton Academy Large reserves
- Aldercar High School Tight
- St Edmund's Catholic School Large reserves
- St Michaels Church of England Academy In deficit
- The Pedmore High School Large reserves
- Ellesmere Port Church of England College Large reserves
- Farringdon Community Academy Large reserves
- Longhill High School Heading for deficit
- University Academy Long Sutton In deficit
- Edgar Wood Academy Large reserves
- Lordswood Boys' School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.0m | £8,890 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £122k | £181 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £246k | £366 |
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?
- Spending on energy is £421 a pupil, against a typical £198 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 Orion Spires · All Kent school finances