The Castle School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £929k in reserve, 10% 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). South Gloucestershire · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: PATHWAY 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 | £8.2m | £7.9m | +£280k | £704k | 1,605 |
2019-20 | £8.6m | £8.1m | +£526k | £883k | 1,554 |
2020-21 | £8.7m | £8.1m | +£586k | £976k | 1,511 |
2021-22 | £8.8m | £8.2m | +£574k | £1.0m | 1,538 |
2022-23 | £9.3m | £8.6m | +£704k | £0 | 1,520 |
2023-24 | £9.0m | £9.5m | -£446k | £0 | 1,472 |
2024-25 | £9.6m | £9.6m | -£2k | £929k | 1,453 |
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 73% of them. It spends £6,584 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,423.
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 | £4,002 | £4,251 | £4,058–£4,472 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £804 | £895 | £491–£1,017 |
Supply staff | £117 | £67 | £48–£99 |
Admin and clerical | £271 | £386 | £287–£482 |
Premises | £324 | £373 | £288–£461 |
Energy | £156 | £131 | £108–£170 |
Learning resources & ICT | £478 | £582 | £509–£745 |
Bought-in services | £14 | £62 | £28–£131 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Silverdale School Large reserves
- Brookvale Groby Learning Campus Heading for deficit
- All Hallows Catholic School Large reserves
- Malmesbury School Large reserves
- The Cotswold Academy Large reserves
- Oriel High School Tight
- Impington Village College Large reserves
- Burford School Healthy
- Brine Leas School Tight
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School Tight
- The Petersfield School Large reserves
- St Crispin's School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.2m | £7,049 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £266k | £183 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £114k | £78 |
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 supply staff is £117 a pupil, against a typical £67 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 Castle School · All South Gloucestershire school finances