Portland School: school finances
Tight
Holds £59k 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). Stoke-on-Trent · Not applicable · Academy special sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE SHAW EDUCATION 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 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£8k | -£576k | 88 |
2019-20 | £2.6m | £2.8m | -£153k | -£730k | 96 |
2020-21 | £3.0m | £2.6m | +£401k | -£328k | 118 |
2021-22 | £3.0m | £2.9m | +£106k | -£222k | 123 |
2023-24 | £3.6m | £3.4m | +£152k | -£43k | 114 |
2024-25 | £4.5m | £4.3m | +£246k | £59k | 135 |
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 7% of them. It spends £31,570 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,605.
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 | £10,904 | £9,766 | £9,024–£10,881 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £6,222 | £8,697 | £5,004–£11,867 |
Supply staff | £4,185 | £462 | £51–£1,147 |
Admin and clerical | £1,333 | £1,099 | £834–£1,368 |
Premises | £2,830 | £1,236 | £991–£1,562 |
Energy | £1,007 | £370 | £288–£604 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,370 | £716 | £517–£927 |
Bought-in services | £904 | £530 | £297–£956 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ashley High School Large reserves
- Wood Bank School Large reserves
- Brookfields School Large reserves
- Kings Mill School In deficit
- Gosden House School Large reserves
- Mary Elliot Academy Tight
- Harbour School Dorset Healthy
- Mill Ford School Large reserves
- Rosehill School Large reserves
- Cromwell High School Large reserves
- The Woodlands Academy Large reserves
- Sunningdale School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.4m | £32,881 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £189k | £1,400 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £69k | £511 |
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 £4,185 a pupil, against a typical £462 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £1,007 a pupil, against a typical £370 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,830 a pupil, against a typical £1,236 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,370 a pupil, against a typical £716 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 Portland School · All Stoke-on-Trent school finances