Ash Field Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £139k 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). Leicester · Not applicable · Academy special converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: DISCOVERY SCHOOLS ACADEMIES TRUST LTD 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 | £5.8m | £5.7m | +£156k | £1.6m | 158 |
2019-20 | £5.9m | £5.2m | +£694k | £2.3m | 160 |
2020-21 | £6.1m | £5.0m | +£1.1m | £2.9m | 159 |
2021-22 | £5.6m | £5.8m | -£210k | £2.7m | 163 |
2022-23 | £7.0m | £6.7m | +£324k | £3.1m | 165 |
2024-25 | £7.3m | £6.8m | +£453k | £139k | 157 |
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 23% of them. It spends £43,516 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £25,211.
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 | £10,490 | £9,513 | £8,582–£10,870 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £21,771 | £9,144 | £7,113–£12,098 |
Supply staff | £191 | £324 | £108–£815 |
Admin and clerical | £1,522 | £1,161 | £937–£1,538 |
Premises | £1,879 | £1,200 | £825–£1,950 |
Energy | £548 | £337 | £242–£444 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,745 | £688 | £440–£1,018 |
Bought-in services | £2,803 | £415 | £255–£865 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Abbey School Healthy
- Riverside Community Special School Large reserves
- Weatherfield Academy Large reserves
- Highbury School Large reserves
- Breakspeare School Large reserves
- Sheringham Woodfields School Healthy
- Coppice School Large reserves
- Fairmead School Healthy
- Wightwick Hall School In deficit
- Treetops Free School Large reserves
- Halesbury School In deficit
- Endeavour Co-Operative Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.2m | £45,975 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £5.0m | £31,949 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £67k | £427 |
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 bought-in services is £2,803 a pupil, against a typical £415 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,745 a pupil, against a typical £688 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £21,771 a pupil, against a typical £9,144 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £548 a pupil, against a typical £337 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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