James Brindley School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.9m in reserve, 16% 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). Birmingham · Not applicable · Academy special converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THINK DIFFERENTLY EDUCATION 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 | £8.9m | £9.1m | -£290k | £896k | 151 |
2019-20 | £9.4m | £9.7m | -£345k | £551k | 126 |
2020-21 | £9.3m | £9.1m | +£249k | £800k | 116 |
2021-22 | £9.9m | £9.4m | +£506k | £1.3m | 128 |
2022-23 | £10.9m | £10.1m | +£792k | £2.1m | 138 |
2023-24 | £11.4m | £11.5m | -£136k | £2.0m | 137 |
2024-25 | £12.0m | £12.1m | -£93k | £1.9m | 277 |
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 77% of them. It spends £43,722 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,619.
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 | £22,451 | £9,813 | £8,944–£10,821 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £40 | £9,478 | £7,536–£11,437 |
Supply staff | £3,978 | £235 | £49–£1,091 |
Admin and clerical | £1,527 | £1,012 | £690–£1,258 |
Premises | £805 | £1,170 | £995–£1,553 |
Energy | £884 | £306 | £261–£516 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,762 | £778 | £565–£989 |
Bought-in services | £375 | £395 | £253–£1,328 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Two Rivers High School Large reserves
- Oak Grove College Tight
- Chellow Heights Special School Healthy
- Cleaswell Hill School Large reserves
- Brackenfield Special School Large reserves
- Stubbin Wood School Large reserves
- Foreland Fields School Healthy
- Mayfield School In deficit
- Newton Bridge Academy Healthy
- Princes School Large reserves
- Chiltern Way Academy Large reserves
- Sir Tom Finney Community High School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £12.3m | £44,329 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.6m | £9,444 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £185k | £668 |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £3,978 a pupil, against a typical £235 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £884 a pupil, against a typical £306 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £22,451 a pupil, against a typical £9,813 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,762 a pupil, against a typical £778 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,527 a pupil, against a typical £1,012 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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