Elm Tree Primary Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £63k 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). Sandwell · Not applicable · Free schools special.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: VICTORIA 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, 2022-23 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2022-23 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-23 | £854k | £603k | +£251k | £0 | 15 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.5m | +£264k | £0 | 48 |
2024-25 | £2.8m | £2.6m | +£170k | £63k | 88 |
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 13% of them. It spends £29,932 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £30,305.
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 | £9,227 | £11,469 | £9,197–£12,878 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £11,818 | £11,267 | £7,962–£12,737 |
Supply staff | £3,830 | £324 | £44–£1,265 |
Admin and clerical | £636 | £1,178 | £999–£1,432 |
Premises | £625 | £1,575 | £1,328–£1,757 |
Energy | £670 | £536 | £319–£699 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,159 | £767 | £561–£1,133 |
Bought-in services | £216 | £646 | £382–£1,650 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wyvern Academy Large reserves
- Fountaindale School Large reserves
- Blackmarston School Large reserves
- Northern House Academy Large reserves
- Hillside Special School Large reserves
- Heatherwood School Large reserves
- Wren Spinney School Large reserves
- Heaton School Tight
- Bleasdale School Large reserves
- The Cedar School Healthy
- Woodeaton Manor School In deficit
- Avalon School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.8m | £31,648 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.4m | £15,466 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £19k | £216 |
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?
- Spending on supply staff is £3,830 a pupil, against a typical £324 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 Elm Tree Primary Academy · All Sandwell school finances