Soundwell Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.1m in reserve, 21% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bristol, City of · Not applicable · Free schools special.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: MIDSOMER NORTON SCHOOLS 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, 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 | £968k | £922k | +£46k | £74k | 28 |
2021-22 | £3.0m | £2.6m | +£384k | £271k | 90 |
2022-23 | £4.0m | £3.6m | +£408k | £481k | 120 |
2023-24 | £4.2m | £4.1m | +£166k | £954k | 133 |
2024-25 | £5.1m | £4.9m | +£216k | £1.1m | 140 |
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 90% of them. It spends £34,893 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £28,611.
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 | £12,693 | £10,298 | £9,157–£11,521 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,321 | £9,323 | £6,661–£12,166 |
Supply staff | £3,379 | £789 | £236–£2,137 |
Admin and clerical | £693 | £1,143 | £937–£1,798 |
Premises | £1,900 | £1,192 | £943–£1,462 |
Energy | £79 | £318 | £259–£514 |
Learning resources & ICT | £993 | £701 | £502–£1,304 |
Bought-in services | £414 | £866 | £220–£2,505 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- New Fosseway School Healthy
- Southlands School In deficit
- St Giles' Spencer Academy Large reserves
- Old Hall School Healthy
- Humberston Park School Large reserves
- Elm Tree Community Primary School Healthy
- Kingsmead School Large reserves
- Langley School Healthy
- Cramlington Hillcrest School Large reserves
- Villa Real School Large reserves
- Welburn Hall School In deficit
- St Andrew's Academy In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.1m | £36,671 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.1m | £22,214 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £18k | £129 |
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 £3,379 a pupil, against a typical £789 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,900 a pupil, against a typical £1,192 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £12,693 a pupil, against a typical £10,298 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 Soundwell Academy · All Bristol, City of school finances