Biggleswade Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £2.6m in reserve, 47% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Central Bedfordshire · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: LIFE ACADEMIES 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 | £5.1m | £5.0m | +£159k | £1.3m | 1,050 |
2019-20 | £5.4m | £5.0m | +£415k | £1.7m | 1,036 |
2020-21 | £5.3m | £5.0m | +£298k | £2.0m | 1,054 |
2021-22 | £6.0m | £5.6m | +£373k | £2.4m | 1,063 |
2022-23 | £6.4m | £5.9m | +£451k | £2.8m | 1,090 |
2023-24 | £6.6m | £6.7m | -£55k | £2.8m | 1,070 |
2024-25 | £5.5m | £5.6m | -£165k | £2.6m | 776 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary 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 100% of them. It spends £7,263 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,236.
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 | £3,130 | £3,031 | £2,634–£3,265 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £2,111 | £1,231 | £993–£1,436 |
Supply staff | £12 | £86 | £35–£146 |
Admin and clerical | £479 | £298 | £249–£392 |
Premises | £490 | £314 | £257–£357 |
Energy | £129 | £81 | £68–£119 |
Learning resources & ICT | £193 | £252 | £181–£311 |
Bought-in services | £107 | £100 | £49–£229 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Harborne Primary School In deficit
- West Park CofE Primary (Controlled) School In deficit
- Earlswood Infant and Nursery School Healthy
- Winton Primary School Large reserves
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Heading for deficit
- Bushmead Primary & Nursery School In deficit
- Tudor Court Primary School Tight
- Moulsham Junior School Large reserves
- Abbey Mead Primary Academy Large reserves
- Thomas A Becket Junior School Healthy
- Bourne Westfield Primary Academy Large reserves
- Bitterne Park Primary & Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.2m | £6,749 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £421k | £543 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £461k | £594 |
Money raised by parents
BIGGLESWADE ACADEMY PTFA (charity 1089374, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £11k | £19k |
2024-08 | £13k | £975 |
2023-08 | £0 | £40 |
2022-08 | £0 | £0 |
2021-08 | £400 | £3k |
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 are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 26% 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 £2,111 a pupil, against a typical £1,231 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £479 a pupil, against a typical £298 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £490 a pupil, against a typical £314 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Biggleswade Academy · All Central Bedfordshire school finances