Smestow 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). Wolverhampton · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: MATRIX 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 | £5.1m | £5.0m | +£81k | -£621k | 908 |
2019-20 | £5.3m | £5.1m | +£211k | £0 | 862 |
2020-21 | £5.5m | £4.7m | +£823k | £0 | 722 |
2021-22 | £5.3m | £4.1m | +£1.2m | £0 | 675 |
2022-23 | £5.3m | £4.2m | +£1.1m | £1.6m | 654 |
2023-24 | £5.3m | £5.2m | +£140k | £1.4m | 614 |
2024-25 | £5.4m | £5.5m | -£36k | £1.1m | 552 |
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 87% of them. It spends £9,931 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,064.
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 | £5,998 | £4,492 | £4,198–£4,808 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £647 | £977 | £690–£1,651 |
Supply staff | £38 | £217 | £120–£375 |
Admin and clerical | £652 | £520 | £401–£805 |
Premises | £543 | £497 | £381–£610 |
Energy | £355 | £213 | £165–£272 |
Learning resources & ICT | £862 | £498 | £370–£852 |
Bought-in services | £38 | £105 | £46–£259 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Parkside Community School Large reserves
- Washington Academy Large reserves
- Jewellery Quarter Academy Large reserves
- Millbay Academy Tight
- Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East Large reserves
- Broadoak School Large reserves
- Thrybergh Academy In deficit
- Callerton Academy Large reserves
- St Peter's Catholic College Large reserves
- City Academy Large reserves
- Park Lane Academy Heading for deficit
- Red House Academy Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.3m | £9,685 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £63k | £114 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £225k | £408 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 39% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £355 a pupil, against a typical £213 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,998 a pupil, against a typical £4,492 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 Smestow Academy · All Wolverhampton school finances