The Link School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £893, 0% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Sunderland · 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 | £1.3m | £1.4m | -£44k | £31k | 50 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£2k | £32k | 169 |
2020-21 | £3.7m | £3.7m | +£41k | £69k | 150 |
2021-22 | £4.0m | £4.0m | -£17k | £52k | 149 |
2022-23 | £4.4m | £4.4m | £0 | £52k | 156 |
2023-24 | £5.0m | £5.1m | -£52k | £0 | 166 |
2024-25 | £5.5m | £5.5m | -£33k | -£33k | 184 |
2025-26 | £6.1m | £6.1m | +£33k | -£893 | 181 |
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 17% of them. It spends £33,650 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,363.
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 | £13,505 | £10,580 | £8,818–£15,979 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,035 | £5,040 | £3,553–£6,127 |
Supply staff | £0 | £816 | £280–£1,331 |
Admin and clerical | £2,956 | £1,267 | £987–£1,968 |
Premises | £1,162 | £1,126 | £816–£1,554 |
Energy | £423 | £305 | £220–£437 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,896 | £1,265 | £706–£2,259 |
Bought-in services | £2,155 | £764 | £136–£2,557 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Raise Rochdale Pupil Referral Service Healthy
- Aspire Academy Healthy
- Tameside Alternative Provision Academy Large reserves
- Three Towers Alternative Provision Academy Healthy
- Haybrook College Large reserves
- The CE Academy Healthy
- Coal Clough Academy Large reserves
- Ash Grove School Healthy
- Esteem Valley Academy Large reserves
- Highfields College In deficit
- Sandwell Community School Large reserves
- The Hub School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.6m | £30,819 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.3m | £12,860 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £188k | £1,038 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £545k | £3,011 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,956 a pupil, against a typical £1,267 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £9,035 a pupil, against a typical £5,040 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 The Link School · All Sunderland school finances