St Mary's Catholic School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £852k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Hertfordshire · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
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 | £5.4m | £5.5m | -£76k | £160k | 1,000 |
2019-20 | £6.1m | £6.2m | -£70k | £90k | 1,011 |
2020-21 | £6.4m | £6.4m | -£26k | £64k | 1,084 |
2021-22 | £7.1m | £6.6m | +£474k | £0 | 1,151 |
2022-23 | £7.8m | £7.5m | +£339k | £0 | 1,158 |
2023-24 | £8.6m | £8.4m | +£167k | £744k | 1,153 |
2024-25 | £8.7m | £8.6m | +£111k | £852k | 1,121 |
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 63% of them. It spends £7,670 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,375.
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 | £4,652 | £4,314 | £4,179–£4,516 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £391 | £494 | £350–£654 |
Supply staff | £93 | £56 | £23–£88 |
Admin and clerical | £586 | £471 | £370–£563 |
Premises | £507 | £407 | £345–£443 |
Energy | £263 | £124 | £101–£152 |
Learning resources & ICT | £630 | £616 | £514–£722 |
Bought-in services | £12 | £94 | £61–£160 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Becket Keys Church of England Free School Large reserves
- Summerhill School Healthy
- Wilmington Grammar School for Boys Large reserves
- Court Moor School Heading for deficit
- Keswick School Large reserves
- Presdales School Large reserves
- St Joseph's College Tight
- Wirral Grammar School for Boys Large reserves
- Wirral Grammar School for Girls Large reserves
- Upton Court Grammar School Large reserves
- Colyton Grammar School Heading for deficit
- The Crossley Heath School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.9m | £7,054 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £52k | £46 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £801k | £715 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF ST MARYS SCHOOL (charity 1050230, Registered) raised £54k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-03 | £54k | £70k |
2024-03 | £63k | £53k |
2023-03 | £76k | £93k |
2022-03 | £54k | £67k |
2021-03 | £56k | £70k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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 energy is £263 a pupil, against a typical £124 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £507 a pupil, against a typical £407 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 St Mary's Catholic School · All Hertfordshire school finances