Ark Blake Academy: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £547k, 7% 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). Croydon · Secondary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ARK SCHOOLS 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, 2020-21 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2020-21 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020-21 | £1.6m | £1.9m | -£272k | -£411k | 178 |
2021-22 | £2.9m | £2.6m | +£330k | -£585k | 352 |
2022-23 | £4.4m | £4.6m | -£240k | -£825k | 523 |
2023-24 | £5.8m | £5.6m | +£223k | -£854k | 664 |
2024-25 | £7.6m | £7.2m | +£412k | -£547k | 783 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 0% of them. It spends £9,217 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,565.
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 | £4,954 | £5,876 | £5,053–£6,386 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £455 | £870 | £706–£1,374 |
Supply staff | £450 | £154 | £56–£298 |
Admin and clerical | £755 | £702 | £572–£901 |
Premises | £416 | £561 | £435–£921 |
Energy | £137 | £209 | £135–£261 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,005 | £585 | £441–£762 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £150 | £53–£390 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy Large reserves
- Shirley High School Performing Arts College Large reserves
- Highbury Fields School Tight
- London Design and Engineering UTC Healthy
- Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy Large reserves
- Harris Academy Bermondsey Large reserves
- Clarion Large reserves
- Sacred Heart Catholic School Large reserves
- Westminster City School In deficit
- Ark Acton Academy Large reserves
- The Elms Academy Large reserves
- Royal Greenwich Trust School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.1m | £9,080 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £194k | £248 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £519k | £663 |
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 supply staff is £450 a pupil, against a typical £154 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,005 a pupil, against a typical £585 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 Ark Blake Academy · All Croydon school finances