The Vireo Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £320k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2023-24, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Wolverhampton · Not applicable · Academy alternative provision converter.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
A 2024-25 return is published too, but it covers part of a year or leaves out the income or reserve figure, so the latest complete year is shown.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2023-24
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2023-24
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £3.0m | £3.7m | -£690k | £989k | 112 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.9m | -£478k | £511k | 121 |
2020-21 | £3.1m | £2.9m | +£211k | £722k | 107 |
2021-22 | £3.0m | £3.3m | -£289k | £433k | 101 |
2022-23 | £3.1m | £3.3m | -£217k | £216k | 87 |
2023-24 | £3.2m | £3.1m | +£103k | £320k | 100 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 53% of them. It spends £30,918 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,117.
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 | £14,640 | £10,772 | £9,718–£14,938 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £5,805 | £4,743 | £3,853–£7,223 |
Supply staff | £732 | £1,063 | £486–£2,089 |
Admin and clerical | £3,365 | £1,638 | £1,102–£2,321 |
Premises | £2,068 | £1,095 | £911–£1,735 |
Energy | £0 | £289 | £176–£510 |
Learning resources & ICT | £973 | £1,319 | £827–£1,788 |
Bought-in services | £1,464 | £1,027 | £372–£2,866 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Compass School In deficit
- Oswaldtwistle School Large reserves
- Youth Challenge Pru Healthy
- The Quay School Large reserves
- The Ladder School In deficit
- Chadwick High School Large reserves
- Dorchester Learning Centre Large reserves
- The Acorns School In deficit
- Lionheart School In deficit
- Trafford Alternative Education Provision Healthy
- East Sussex Academy Tight
- Herefordshire Pupil Referral Service Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2023-24
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.2m | £31,858 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.8m | £17,512 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £29k | £293 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £9k | £92 |
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?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,365 a pupil, against a typical £1,638 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,068 a pupil, against a typical £1,095 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.
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