Backwell School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £787k in reserve, 7% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). North Somerset · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP 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 | £8.9m | £8.8m | +£111k | £1.8m | 1,754 |
2019-20 | £9.2m | £8.8m | +£342k | £172k | 1,732 |
2020-21 | £10.1m | £9.0m | +£1.1m | £781k | 1,718 |
2021-22 | £10.1m | £9.7m | +£414k | £820k | 1,725 |
2022-23 | £11.3m | £10.8m | +£444k | £925k | 1,687 |
2023-24 | £11.3m | £11.0m | +£328k | £727k | 1,630 |
2024-25 | £11.6m | £11.1m | +£590k | £787k | 1,600 |
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 33% of them. It spends £6,909 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,180.
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 | £4,095 | £4,200 | £3,972–£4,505 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £894 | £615 | £396–£721 |
Supply staff | £62 | £33 | £9–£118 |
Admin and clerical | £436 | £432 | £311–£583 |
Premises | £389 | £350 | £308–£426 |
Energy | £121 | £123 | £104–£141 |
Learning resources & ICT | £623 | £624 | £498–£850 |
Bought-in services | £22 | £62 | £40–£106 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Ecclesbourne School Large reserves
- Weydon School Large reserves
- Highworth Grammar School Large reserves
- The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School Large reserves
- Invicta Grammar School Large reserves
- Redland Green School Large reserves
- High Storrs School Large reserves
- Dartford Grammar School Large reserves
- St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking Large reserves
- Glyn School Large reserves
- Watford Grammar School for Boys Heading for deficit
- St Andrew's Catholic School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.4m | £7,124 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £256k | £160 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £246k | £154 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £894 a pupil, against a typical £615 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 Backwell School · All North Somerset school finances