Polam Hall School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £1.2m, 19% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Darlington · All-through · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: WOODARD 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 | £3.8m | £4.2m | -£368k | -£782k | 739 |
2019-20 | £4.1m | £4.2m | -£33k | -£984k | 744 |
2021-22 | £4.5m | £4.2m | +£259k | -£998k | 741 |
2022-23 | £4.9m | £5.0m | -£141k | -£1.1m | 787 |
2023-24 | £5.6m | £5.3m | +£326k | -£1.0m | 816 |
2024-25 | £6.3m | £6.2m | +£139k | -£1.2m | 841 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 all-through 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 3% of them. It spends £7,321 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,190.
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 | £3,529 | £3,932 | £3,647–£4,275 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,026 | £940 | £748–£1,169 |
Supply staff | £315 | £142 | £60–£312 |
Admin and clerical | £636 | £368 | £273–£506 |
Premises | £390 | £379 | £318–£474 |
Energy | £144 | £133 | £92–£168 |
Learning resources & ICT | £439 | £380 | £332–£525 |
Bought-in services | £42 | £82 | £21–£167 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Batley Grammar School Large reserves
- Kents Hill Park all-through school Large reserves
- Christ's College Healthy
- Livingstone Academy Bournemouth In deficit
- King's Oak Academy Healthy
- Atlantic Academy Portland In deficit
- The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School) Healthy
- Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School Large reserves
- DSLV E-ACT Academy Large reserves
- Grove Academy In deficit
- The Gatwick School Healthy
- Cranbrook Education Campus Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.0m | £7,140 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £135k | £161 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £305k | £363 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with its trust, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £636 a pupil, against a typical £368 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 Polam Hall School · All Darlington school finances