St Benedict's Catholic High School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £402k, 5% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 3 years running.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cumberland · 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 | £5.8m | £5.6m | +£122k | -£768k | 1,070 |
2019-20 | £6.5m | £6.3m | +£201k | -£567k | 1,109 |
2020-21 | £6.7m | £6.5m | +£186k | -£382k | 1,119 |
2021-22 | £7.5m | £6.9m | +£659k | £277k | 1,100 |
2022-23 | £7.7m | £7.5m | +£191k | £468k | 1,086 |
2023-24 | £8.1m | £8.2m | -£48k | £420k | 1,039 |
2024-25 | £8.4m | £8.6m | -£252k | £168k | 992 |
2025-26 | £8.4m | £9.0m | -£570k | -£402k | 990 |
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 3% of them. It spends £9,053 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,819.
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 | £5,708 | £4,320 | £4,032–£4,632 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,073 | £850 | £681–£1,121 |
Supply staff | £63 | £160 | £102–£252 |
Admin and clerical | £433 | £446 | £359–£588 |
Premises | £485 | £409 | £312–£488 |
Energy | £134 | £159 | £115–£197 |
Learning resources & ICT | £249 | £516 | £397–£631 |
Bought-in services | £131 | £109 | £61–£163 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Outwood Academy Freeston Large reserves
- The WREN School Large reserves
- Unsworth Academy Large reserves
- Longbenton High School In deficit
- North Oxfordshire Academy Large reserves
- Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre Large reserves
- Patchway Community School Large reserves
- King's Lynn Academy Large reserves
- King Edward VI Lordswood School for Girls Large reserves
- Portslade Aldridge Community Academy Large reserves
- The Cowplain School Large reserves
- Carleton High School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.9m | £7,980 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £443k | £447 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £299k | £302 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £492k | £497 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with the council, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Spending on teachers is £5,708 a pupil, against a typical £4,320 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 St Benedict's Catholic High School · All Cumberland school finances