Darwen Aldridge Community Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £235k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Blackburn with Darwen · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ALDRIDGE 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 | £9.3m | £8.8m | +£519k | £1.2m | 1,291 |
2019-20 | £9.0m | £7.7m | +£1.4m | £2.1m | 1,247 |
2020-21 | £8.6m | £8.4m | +£257k | £2.5m | 1,203 |
2021-22 | £8.9m | £8.3m | +£573k | £1.6m | 1,195 |
2022-23 | £8.8m | £8.3m | +£417k | £1.4m | 1,106 |
2023-24 | £8.7m | £9.1m | -£334k | £368k | 1,068 |
2024-25 | £8.9m | £8.5m | +£420k | £235k | 1,072 |
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 10% of them. It spends £7,907 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,110.
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 | £3,953 | £4,334 | £4,030–£4,611 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,040 | £960 | £815–£1,169 |
Supply staff | £203 | £166 | £60–£222 |
Admin and clerical | £649 | £416 | £299–£535 |
Premises | £641 | £421 | £260–£913 |
Energy | £237 | £169 | £114–£205 |
Learning resources & ICT | £623 | £465 | £388–£544 |
Bought-in services | £82 | £108 | £48–£252 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Newfield Secondary School Healthy
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School Large reserves
- The Highcrest Academy Large reserves
- South Wirral High School Large reserves
- Marsden Heights Community College Large reserves
- Wingfield Academy Large reserves
- The Birley Academy Healthy
- The Long Eaton School Tight
- Maltby Academy Large reserves
- Oasis Academy Sholing Large reserves
- Sir William Ramsay School Healthy
- The Crestwood School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.8m | £8,248 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £195k | £182 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £54k | £50 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 17% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £649 a pupil, against a typical £416 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £237 a pupil, against a typical £169 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £623 a pupil, against a typical £465 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 Darwen Aldridge Community Academy · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances