Longfield Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £68k 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). Darlington · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: NORTHERN ARCH LEARNING PARTNERSHIP 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 | +£34k | £115k | 904 |
2019-20 | £5.7m | £5.3m | +£412k | £187k | 891 |
2020-21 | £5.6m | £5.3m | +£303k | £162k | 884 |
2021-22 | £6.0m | £5.8m | +£210k | £117k | 876 |
2022-23 | £6.4m | £5.6m | +£770k | £109k | 819 |
2023-24 | £6.4m | £6.3m | +£156k | £22k | 793 |
2024-25 | £6.3m | £6.0m | +£285k | £68k | 721 |
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 20% of them. It spends £8,345 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,329.
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 | £4,275 | £4,718 | £4,321–£5,072 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,205 | £1,016 | £701–£1,225 |
Supply staff | £363 | £111 | £59–£246 |
Admin and clerical | £300 | £531 | £310–£714 |
Premises | £254 | £462 | £353–£533 |
Energy | £226 | £170 | £130–£200 |
Learning resources & ICT | £459 | £494 | £387–£642 |
Bought-in services | £424 | £91 | £23–£229 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Withernsea High School Heading for deficit
- Pakefield High School Large reserves
- Bronte Girls' Academy Large reserves
- Laureate Academy Large reserves
- All Hallows RC High School Healthy
- Walton-Le-Dale High School Large reserves
- George Pindar School Large reserves
- Broadoak Academy Large reserves
- The Cornerstone Academy Large reserves
- Thomas Knyvett College Large reserves
- Dixons McMillan Academy Large reserves
- West Bromwich Collegiate Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.3m | £8,713 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £117k | £162 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £308k | £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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 20% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £424 a pupil, against a typical £91 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £363 a pupil, against a typical £111 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £226 a pupil, against a typical £170 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 Longfield Academy · All Darlington school finances