Davenant Foundation School: school finances
Tight
Holds £267k 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). Essex · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: DAVENANT FOUNDATION SCHOOL 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 | £7.0m | £7.1m | -£55k | £237k | 1,201 |
2019-20 | £7.2m | £7.1m | +£90k | £323k | 1,219 |
2020-21 | £7.6m | £7.5m | +£143k | £389k | 1,258 |
2021-22 | £8.3m | £8.2m | +£152k | £291k | 1,219 |
2022-23 | £8.5m | £8.4m | +£102k | £372k | 1,233 |
2023-24 | £8.9m | £8.9m | -£28k | £320k | 1,252 |
2024-25 | £9.6m | £9.6m | -£50k | £267k | 1,242 |
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 27% of them. It spends £7,738 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,358.
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 | £4,533 | £4,393 | £4,179–£4,515 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £791 | £545 | £470–£694 |
Supply staff | £93 | £36 | £8–£77 |
Admin and clerical | £660 | £398 | £346–£483 |
Premises | £463 | £369 | £304–£415 |
Energy | £166 | £119 | £106–£137 |
Learning resources & ICT | £552 | £579 | £477–£703 |
Bought-in services | £76 | £84 | £48–£119 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Southend High School for Girls Tight
- Heathside School Large reserves
- Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys Heading for deficit
- Downlands Community School Heading for deficit
- Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Large reserves
- Bohunt School Wokingham Large reserves
- Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School In deficit
- Lancaster Royal Grammar School Healthy
- Walton High School In deficit
- Whitburn Church of England Academy In deficit
- The Norton Knatchbull School Heading for deficit
- St Paul's Catholic College Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.7m | £7,017 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £290k | £233 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £846k | £681 |
Money raised by parents
DAVENANT FOUNDATION SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION (charity 1193613, Registered) raised £38k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £38k | £41k |
2024-08 | £30k | £15k |
2023-08 | £21k | £25k |
2022-08 | £17k | £17k |
2021-08 | £13k | £14k |
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.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on supply staff is £93 a pupil, against a typical £36 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £660 a pupil, against a typical £398 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £791 a pupil, against a typical £545 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £166 a pupil, against a typical £119 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £463 a pupil, against a typical £369 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.
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