Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £927k in reserve, 8% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Trafford · Secondary · Voluntary aided 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 | £7.7m | £7.4m | +£274k | £335k | 1,394 |
2019-20 | £8.4m | £8.2m | +£202k | £537k | 1,487 |
2020-21 | £8.7m | £8.3m | +£451k | £988k | 1,555 |
2021-22 | £9.6m | £9.5m | +£105k | £1.1m | 1,555 |
2022-23 | £10.0m | £10.4m | -£384k | £710k | 1,585 |
2023-24 | £10.9m | £10.5m | +£313k | £1.0m | 1,593 |
2024-25 | £11.5m | £11.5m | +£2k | £1.0m | 1,614 |
2025-26 | £12.0m | £12.1m | -£99k | £927k | 1,638 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary 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 47% of them. It spends £7,405 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,139.
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 | £4,262 | £4,195 | £4,001–£4,339 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £929 | £753 | £536–£919 |
Supply staff | £252 | £43 | £18–£88 |
Admin and clerical | £365 | £390 | £323–£471 |
Premises | £418 | £324 | £268–£444 |
Energy | £111 | £119 | £97–£155 |
Learning resources & ICT | £347 | £545 | £424–£774 |
Bought-in services | £164 | £70 | £40–£106 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Uckfield College Heading for deficit
- Otley Prince Henry's Grammar School Specialist Language College Large reserves
- Beacon Academy Large reserves
- Bridgewater High School Large reserves
- Ashton-on-Mersey School Large reserves
- Notre Dame High School, Norwich Large reserves
- Tring School Large reserves
- Thomas Telford School Large reserves
- St Martin's School Brentwood Large reserves
- Didcot Girls' School Healthy
- Redborne Upper School and Community College Tight
- Sharnbrook Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.4m | £6,940 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £358k | £218 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £222k | £135 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £662k | £404 |
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 supply staff is £252 a pupil, against a typical £43 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on bought-in services is £164 a pupil, against a typical £70 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 Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College · All Trafford school finances