Abbot's Lea School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £450k in reserve, 7% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Liverpool · 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 | £4.2m | £4.2m | +£9k | £13k | 252 |
2019-20 | £4.7m | £4.6m | +£36k | £49k | 260 |
2020-21 | £5.1m | £4.9m | +£219k | £268k | 271 |
2021-22 | £5.3m | £5.2m | +£68k | £336k | 270 |
2022-23 | £5.5m | £5.7m | -£204k | £132k | 271 |
2023-24 | £5.8m | £5.7m | +£146k | £278k | 272 |
2024-25 | £6.3m | £6.0m | +£253k | £531k | 272 |
2025-26 | £6.8m | £6.9m | -£81k | £450k | 272 |
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 30% of them. It spends £25,243 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £26,214.
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 | £7,436 | £9,554 | £8,672–£11,397 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £7,634 | £8,312 | £6,343–£11,085 |
Supply staff | £1,384 | £711 | £204–£1,686 |
Admin and clerical | £3,034 | £914 | £649–£1,295 |
Premises | £2,799 | £1,354 | £912–£1,764 |
Energy | £244 | £321 | £236–£455 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,782 | £630 | £466–£956 |
Bought-in services | £446 | £433 | £208–£1,098 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Springwell School Large reserves
- Mayfield School Large reserves
- Lexden Springs School Large reserves
- Grange School Large reserves
- Bower Grove School Healthy
- Piper Hill High School Large reserves
- Park Community Academy Large reserves
- Epinay Business and Enterprise School Large reserves
- The Westminster School Large reserves
- Catcote Academy Large reserves
- Beechcliffe Special School Large reserves
- The Oaks Secondary School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.7m | £24,648 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.0m | £10,871 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £175k | £642 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £81k | £297 |
Money raised by parents
PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION OF ABBOTS LEA SCHOOL (charity 1014635, Registered) raised £435 in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2024-05 | £435 | £2k |
2023-05 | £425 | £0 |
2022-05 | £0 | £0 |
2021-05 | £0 | £0 |
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.
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,034 a pupil, against a typical £914 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,782 a pupil, against a typical £630 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,799 a pupil, against a typical £1,354 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 Abbot's Lea School · All Liverpool school finances