The Blandford School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £505k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Dorset · Secondary · Voluntary controlled 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 | £5.9m | -£130k | -£113k | 1,003 |
2019-20 | £6.0m | £6.1m | -£116k | -£229k | 1,024 |
2020-21 | £6.2m | £6.0m | +£143k | -£86k | 1,043 |
2021-22 | £6.6m | £6.3m | +£313k | £227k | 1,082 |
2022-23 | £6.9m | £6.6m | +£274k | £501k | 1,108 |
2023-24 | £7.9m | £8.0m | -£75k | £426k | 1,144 |
2024-25 | £8.5m | £8.5m | +£73k | £499k | 1,135 |
2025-26 | £8.9m | £8.9m | +£7k | £505k | 1,103 |
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 37% of them. It spends £8,100 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,530.
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 | £5,088 | £4,175 | £3,986–£4,502 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £650 | £838 | £699–£1,012 |
Supply staff | £94 | £145 | £89–£213 |
Admin and clerical | £390 | £415 | £355–£500 |
Premises | £405 | £433 | £372–£595 |
Energy | £175 | £134 | £104–£158 |
Learning resources & ICT | £525 | £470 | £384–£540 |
Bought-in services | £110 | £158 | £75–£252 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Brentwood County High School Tight
- St Thomas More Catholic Academy and Sixth Form College Large reserves
- Maghull High School Healthy
- St Mark's West Essex Catholic School Large reserves
- The Brakenhale School Large reserves
- Esher Church of England High School Large reserves
- The Burton Borough School Large reserves
- Sawtry Village Academy Healthy
- Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School Large reserves
- St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury Large reserves
- Sale High School Large reserves
- Teign School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.4m | £7,607 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £274k | £248 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £550k | £498 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF THE BLANDFORD SCHOOL (charity 306211, Registered) raised £1k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £1k | £5k |
2025-08 | £1k | £497 |
2024-08 | £1k | £657 |
2023-08 | £1k | £1k |
2022-08 | £6k | £8k |
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 energy is £175 a pupil, against a typical £134 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £5,088 a pupil, against a typical £4,175 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.
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