The Norwood School: school finances
Tight
Holds £261k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lambeth · Secondary · Community 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 | £7.6m | £7.6m | -£9k | £7k | 933 |
2019-20 | £8.1m | £8.1m | -£39k | -£32k | 990 |
2020-21 | £8.6m | £8.5m | +£145k | £111k | 1,042 |
2021-22 | £9.3m | £9.0m | +£291k | £402k | 1,086 |
2022-23 | £10.0m | £9.7m | +£253k | £706k | 1,065 |
2023-24 | £10.5m | £10.5m | +£15k | £721k | 1,054 |
2024-25 | £11.1m | £11.7m | -£563k | £158k | 1,069 |
2025-26 | £11.4m | £11.3m | +£104k | £261k | 1,080 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary 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 20% of them. It spends £10,441 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,934.
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 | £6,138 | £5,060 | £4,561–£5,341 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £720 | £872 | £707–£1,107 |
Supply staff | £124 | £179 | £81–£302 |
Admin and clerical | £404 | £542 | £387–£691 |
Premises | £505 | £525 | £424–£647 |
Energy | £265 | £155 | £119–£186 |
Learning resources & ICT | £323 | £582 | £416–£657 |
Bought-in services | £991 | £179 | £95–£331 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Lift Richmond Park Large reserves
- Welling School Healthy
- Bishop Challoner Catholic School Large reserves
- The Totteridge Academy Large reserves
- Coombe Wood School Large reserves
- Trinity Church of England School, Belvedere Large reserves
- The Camden School for Girls Large reserves
- Overton Grange School Large reserves
- Saint Cecilia's Church of England School Healthy
- Norbury High School for Girls Healthy
- Cleeve Park School Large reserves
- The Palmer Catholic Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.1m | £10,276 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £365k | £338 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £305k | £283 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £282k | £261 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF THE NORWOOD SCHOOL (charity 1205861, Registered) raised £23k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-07 | £23k | £34k |
2024-07 | £23k | £13k |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on bought-in services is £991 a pupil, against a typical £179 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £265 a pupil, against a typical £155 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £6,138 a pupil, against a typical £5,060 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 The Norwood School · All Lambeth school finances