The Castle School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.2m in reserve, 16% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Berkshire · 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 | £3.8m | £3.8m | -£2k | £392k | 165 |
2019-20 | £4.1m | £4.1m | +£21k | £412k | 167 |
2020-21 | £4.2m | £4.1m | +£152k | £564k | 164 |
2021-22 | £4.5m | £4.3m | +£223k | £787k | 170 |
2022-23 | £5.3m | £4.9m | +£385k | £1.2m | 175 |
2023-24 | £5.7m | £6.0m | -£281k | £891k | 180 |
2024-25 | £6.7m | £6.8m | -£91k | £800k | 199 |
2025-26 | £7.8m | £7.3m | +£432k | £1.2m | 228 |
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 57% of them. It spends £32,211 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £28,793.
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 | £13,159 | £10,699 | £9,117–£11,427 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £12,205 | £10,965 | £8,470–£12,055 |
Supply staff | £4 | £253 | £89–£605 |
Admin and clerical | £1,379 | £1,180 | £926–£1,584 |
Premises | £1,662 | £1,289 | £1,066–£1,598 |
Energy | £340 | £309 | £263–£423 |
Learning resources & ICT | £635 | £814 | £544–£1,077 |
Bought-in services | £551 | £689 | £396–£2,217 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Mendip School Large reserves
- Manor Mead School Large reserves
- Rigby Hall Day Special School Large reserves
- Booker Park Community School Large reserves
- Slated Row School Large reserves
- Fordwater School, Chichester Tight
- Chiltern Wood School Tight
- Applefields School Large reserves
- Manor Green College Tight
- Daventry Hill School Large reserves
- The Avenue Special School Large reserves
- Ladywood School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.8m | £34,137 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £5.3m | £23,347 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £82k | £360 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £44k | £192 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF CASTLE SCHOOL NEWBURY (charity 291153, Registered) raised £3k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £3k | £2k |
2024-12 | £4k | £17k |
2023-12 | £4k | £2k |
2022-12 | £12k | £0 |
2021-12 | £3k | £7k |
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.
- 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 teachers is £13,159 a pupil, against a typical £10,699 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 The Castle School · All West Berkshire school finances