Perseid School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £1.7m, 19% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Merton · 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 | £4.8m | £4.8m | +£15k | £84k | 146 |
2019-20 | £5.1m | £5.2m | -£136k | -£52k | 145 |
2020-21 | £5.2m | £5.2m | +£35k | -£16k | 146 |
2021-22 | £5.9m | £6.0m | -£49k | -£65k | 152 |
2022-23 | £6.7m | £7.2m | -£497k | -£562k | 152 |
2023-24 | £6.9m | £7.9m | -£937k | -£1.5m | 156 |
2024-25 | £7.4m | £8.1m | -£696k | -£2.2m | 160 |
2025-26 | £8.8m | £8.4m | +£482k | -£1.7m | 186 |
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 0% of them. It spends £44,894 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £38,111.
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 | £13,091 | £12,761 | £11,472–£14,029 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £13,344 | £12,077 | £8,626–£16,210 |
Supply staff | £8,994 | £1,150 | £351–£3,212 |
Admin and clerical | £1,826 | £1,527 | £1,127–£1,998 |
Premises | £2,604 | £1,710 | £1,261–£2,196 |
Energy | £807 | £418 | £289–£637 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,752 | £787 | £680–£1,275 |
Bought-in services | £246 | £2,896 | £859–£4,752 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Mandeville School Tight
- Woodfield School In deficit
- Hatton Special School Large reserves
- Newbridge School Large reserves
- Northway School Tight
- Castlebar School Large reserves
- Pentland Field School Large reserves
- Red Gates School Heading for deficit
- St Philip's School Large reserves
- Moorcroft School Large reserves
- Ormiston Queensmill Academy Tight
- Hedgewood School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.5m | £45,837 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £479k | £2,576 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £89k | £481 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £316k | £1,698 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF PERSEID SCHOOL (charity 298875, Registered) raised £7k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £7k | £3k |
2024-12 | £2k | £2k |
2023-12 | £12k | £16k |
2022-12 | £32k | £26k |
2021-12 | £18k | £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.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on supply staff is £8,994 a pupil, against a typical £1,150 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,752 a pupil, against a typical £787 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £807 a pupil, against a typical £418 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,604 a pupil, against a typical £1,710 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 Perseid School · All Merton school finances