The Centre School: school finances
Tight
Holds £48k 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). Cambridgeshire · Not applicable · Academy special converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ASTREA ACADEMY TRUST 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 | £1.7m | £1.5m | +£156k | £0 | 68 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.3m | +£211k | £30k | 85 |
2020-21 | £2.6m | £2.5m | +£92k | £0 | 106 |
2021-22 | £2.7m | £2.6m | +£100k | £0 | 111 |
2022-23 | £3.3m | £2.9m | +£431k | £0 | 126 |
2023-24 | £3.5m | £3.3m | +£159k | £0 | 134 |
2024-25 | £3.6m | £3.6m | -£37k | £48k | 137 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special 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 20% of them. It spends £26,212 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £31,951.
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 | £16,044 | £11,244 | £9,907–£14,052 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £526 | £10,394 | £7,876–£12,021 |
Supply staff | £832 | £401 | £73–£2,023 |
Admin and clerical | £533 | £1,277 | £1,011–£1,839 |
Premises | £759 | £1,408 | £975–£1,838 |
Energy | £431 | £333 | £219–£558 |
Learning resources & ICT | £6,102 | £1,012 | £696–£1,322 |
Bought-in services | £190 | £668 | £295–£1,561 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Aegir - A Specialist Academy Large reserves
- Green Park School Tight
- Hill Top School In deficit
- Shenstone Lodge School Heading for deficit
- Oak Bank School Large reserves
- Tregonwell Academy Tight
- Kingfisher School Large reserves
- Stephenson Academy In deficit
- Oakfield School In deficit
- Redbridge High School In deficit
- Old Hall School Healthy
- Penn Hall School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.6m | £25,927 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.9m | £13,504 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £2k | £15 |
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 learning resources & ict is £6,102 a pupil, against a typical £1,012 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £16,044 a pupil, against a typical £11,244 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 Centre School · All Cambridgeshire school finances