Westhaven School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £444k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). North Somerset · Not applicable · Foundation 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 | £2.5m | £2.5m | +£8k | £234k | 126 |
2019-20 | £3.0m | £3.0m | -£31k | £203k | 152 |
2020-21 | £3.7m | £3.1m | +£536k | £739k | 184 |
2021-22 | £4.3m | £3.9m | +£426k | £1.2m | 190 |
2022-23 | £4.1m | £4.3m | -£131k | £1.0m | 182 |
2023-24 | £4.3m | £4.7m | -£433k | £600k | 181 |
2024-25 | £4.6m | £4.7m | -£105k | £496k | 185 |
2025-26 | £5.3m | £5.3m | -£81k | £444k | 190 |
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 43% of them. It spends £28,091 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £25,810.
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 | £9,506 | £9,839 | £8,817–£11,260 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,918 | £9,043 | £6,461–£10,629 |
Supply staff | £1,070 | £407 | £76–£1,112 |
Admin and clerical | £1,660 | £950 | £833–£1,241 |
Premises | £2,031 | £1,164 | £823–£1,435 |
Energy | £197 | £301 | £206–£452 |
Learning resources & ICT | £853 | £796 | £502–£1,129 |
Bought-in services | £928 | £459 | £251–£1,449 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Brentwood School Healthy
- Palmerston School Large reserves
- Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy Large reserves
- Ash Trees Academy Large reserves
- Pathfield School Large reserves
- Kingsland Primary School Large reserves
- Co-op Academy Delius Large reserves
- Queen's Croft High School Large reserves
- Haughton School Heading for deficit
- Fox Wood Special School Large reserves
- Ashmount School In deficit
- Northcott School and Sixth Form College Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.1m | £27,100 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.3m | £12,204 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £103k | £542 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £107k | £563 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,660 a pupil, against a typical £950 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,031 a pupil, against a typical £1,164 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 Westhaven School · All North Somerset school finances