Ardley Hill Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £256k in reserve, 9% of a year's income.
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: CHILTERN LEARNING 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 | £2.5m | £2.8m | -£301k | -£17k | 482 |
2019-20 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£26k | -£182k | 455 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£53k | -£122k | 437 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.3m | -£92k | -£282k | 430 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£153k | -£477k | 420 |
2023-24 | £2.5m | £2.7m | -£141k | -£650k | 429 |
2024-25 | £2.7m | £2.7m | +£3k | £256k | 434 |
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 60% of them. It spends £6,302 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,256.
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 | £3,306 | £2,998 | £2,793–£3,197 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,758 | £1,247 | £1,087–£1,487 |
Supply staff | £23 | £78 | £31–£145 |
Admin and clerical | £0 | £249 | £179–£304 |
Premises | £288 | £302 | £260–£352 |
Energy | £71 | £85 | £74–£100 |
Learning resources & ICT | £111 | £247 | £206–£298 |
Bought-in services | £41 | £108 | £44–£216 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Barry Primary School Healthy
- Ings Farm Primary School Large reserves
- Overleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary School Healthy
- St Gabriel's CofE Academy Healthy
- Larkrise Primary School Tight
- Radipole Primary School Large reserves
- Westdene Primary School In deficit
- Romiley Primary School Healthy
- Lancot School Large reserves
- Kerr Mackie Primary School Large reserves
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School In deficit
- Hazeldene School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.6m | £6,058 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £227k | £523 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £109k | £251 |
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 10% 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 £1,758 a pupil, against a typical £1,247 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 Ardley Hill Academy · All Central Bedfordshire school finances