Brookfields School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £4.0m in reserve, 52% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2023-24, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Berkshire · Not applicable · Academy special 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 | £5.8m | £5.7m | +£75k | £163k | 220 |
2019-20 | £6.1m | £5.8m | +£341k | £504k | 235 |
2020-21 | £6.1m | £5.6m | +£476k | £980k | 226 |
2021-22 | £6.6m | £5.4m | +£1.2m | £2.2m | 241 |
2022-23 | £7.6m | £6.1m | +£1.4m | £3.6m | 238 |
2023-24 | £7.6m | £7.2m | +£383k | £4.0m | 229 |
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 100% of them. It spends £31,558 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £29,180.
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 | £10,079 | £9,674 | £8,878–£11,567 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £10,259 | £10,146 | £8,375–£12,770 |
Supply staff | £23 | £151 | £9–£713 |
Admin and clerical | £1,897 | £1,371 | £770–£1,727 |
Premises | £2,133 | £1,553 | £1,261–£1,907 |
Energy | £734 | £380 | £260–£459 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,119 | £873 | £519–£1,206 |
Bought-in services | £3,333 | £692 | £279–£2,068 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Furze Down School Healthy
- Harlow Fields School and College In deficit
- Manor Green Primary School Heading for deficit
- Beaucroft Foundation School Healthy
- Wigston Birkett House Community Special School Large reserves
- Palatine Primary School In deficit
- Chiltern Wood School Tight
- Shepherds Down Special School Large reserves
- Alderman Knight School Large reserves
- Daventry Hill School Large reserves
- Cedar Hall School Large reserves
- Glenwood School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2023-24
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.6m | £33,181 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £5.0m | £21,853 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £87k | £378 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £31k | £136 |
Money raised by parents
BROOKFIELDS SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 273594, Registered) raised £12k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £12k | £7k |
2024-09 | £12k | £4k |
2023-09 | £13k | £8k |
2022-09 | £11k | £11k |
2021-09 | £15k | £15k |
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?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Spending on bought-in services is £3,333 a pupil, against a typical £692 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £734 a pupil, against a typical £380 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,133 a pupil, against a typical £1,553 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 Brookfields School · All West Berkshire school finances