Valley Gardens Middle School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £515k in reserve, 10% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). North Tyneside · Middle deemed secondary · Foundation 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 | £3.3m | £3.2m | +£54k | £233k | 762 |
2019-20 | £3.5m | £3.4m | +£98k | £332k | 753 |
2020-21 | £3.8m | £3.6m | +£189k | £521k | 757 |
2021-22 | £4.0m | £3.8m | +£174k | £695k | 765 |
2022-23 | £4.3m | £4.2m | +£133k | £829k | 772 |
2023-24 | £4.6m | £4.7m | -£84k | £745k | 766 |
2024-25 | £4.7m | £5.0m | -£244k | £501k | 773 |
2025-26 | £5.0m | £5.0m | +£14k | £515k | 768 |
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 80% of them. It spends £6,519 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,365.
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 | £3,998 | £4,254 | £3,977–£4,542 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £936 | £577 | £470–£814 |
Supply staff | £76 | £77 | £25–£132 |
Admin and clerical | £291 | £450 | £403–£583 |
Premises | £359 | £392 | £354–£470 |
Energy | £58 | £136 | £92–£162 |
Learning resources & ICT | £261 | £564 | £406–£670 |
Bought-in services | £119 | £121 | £73–£166 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith In deficit
- Newport Girls' High School Academy Large reserves
- St Bede's Catholic High School Healthy
- Ermysted's Grammar School Large reserves
- Carre's Grammar School Large reserves
- Fitzharrys School Healthy
- Caistor Grammar School Large reserves
- Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy Large reserves
- Skipton Girls' High School Large reserves
- Stratford Girls' Grammar School Large reserves
- St Mary's RC High School Healthy
- King David High School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.7m | £6,078 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £93k | £121 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £112k | £146 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £353k | £459 |
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 support staff (e.g. tas) is £936 a pupil, against a typical £577 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 Valley Gardens Middle School · All North Tyneside school finances