Swiss Cottage School - Development & Research Centre: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 5 years running; at that rate its £32k reserve runs out in about 0 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Camden · Not applicable · Community special school.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £8.9m | £8.5m | +£398k | £1.2m | 245 |
2019-20 | £9.4m | £9.1m | +£281k | £1.5m | 260 |
2020-21 | £9.0m | £8.8m | +£140k | £1.7m | 260 |
2021-22 | £9.6m | £9.6m | -£2k | £1.7m | 260 |
2022-23 | £9.6m | £9.8m | -£143k | £1.5m | 261 |
2023-24 | £10.9m | £11.2m | -£307k | £1.2m | 259 |
2024-25 | £12.1m | £12.6m | -£501k | £703k | 260 |
2025-26 | £12.7m | £13.4m | -£671k | £32k | 264 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 17% of them. It spends £50,787 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £34,883.
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 | £13,291 | £12,791 | £11,326–£15,067 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £24,347 | £9,670 | £6,919–£12,897 |
Supply staff | £56 | £477 | £90–£1,911 |
Admin and clerical | £3,029 | £1,422 | £1,054–£1,752 |
Premises | £3,800 | £1,783 | £1,293–£2,699 |
Energy | £1,143 | £424 | £283–£575 |
Learning resources & ICT | £767 | £847 | £712–£1,182 |
Bought-in services | £1,020 | £1,513 | £675–£4,455 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Bridge School Large reserves
- Cricket Green School Tight
- Paddock School Heading for deficit
- Bensham Manor School In deficit
- Carew Academy Large reserves
- Durants School Healthy
- Willow Dene School Tight
- Belvue School Healthy
- Garratt Park School Large reserves
- Charlton Park Academy Large reserves
- Lime Academy Hornbeam Healthy
- Greenvale School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £12.1m | £45,716 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £8.1m | £30,815 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £162k | £612 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £667k | £2,528 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on energy is £1,143 a pupil, against a typical £424 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £24,347 a pupil, against a typical £9,670 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £3,800 a pupil, against a typical £1,783 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,029 a pupil, against a typical £1,422 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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