Villa Real School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £820k in reserve, 18% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). County Durham · 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 | £2.6m | £2.6m | -£14k | £437k | 90 |
2019-20 | £2.8m | £2.7m | +£128k | £564k | 96 |
2020-21 | £2.7m | £2.9m | -£187k | £378k | 101 |
2021-22 | £2.8m | £2.8m | -£19k | £359k | 104 |
2022-23 | £3.3m | £3.1m | +£182k | £541k | 124 |
2023-24 | £3.8m | £3.7m | +£102k | £643k | 120 |
2024-25 | £4.1m | £4.0m | +£17k | £660k | 119 |
2025-26 | £4.6m | £4.5m | +£161k | £820k | 124 |
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 70% of them. It spends £35,908 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £29,509.
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 | £10,146 | £10,958 | £9,244–£13,008 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £11,335 | £9,399 | £7,172–£11,286 |
Supply staff | £432 | £834 | £252–£2,438 |
Admin and clerical | £1,977 | £1,323 | £1,076–£1,744 |
Premises | £1,109 | £1,441 | £929–£1,741 |
Energy | £313 | £400 | £248–£542 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,265 | £1,050 | £763–£1,425 |
Bought-in services | £2,820 | £635 | £364–£1,823 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Cramlington Hillcrest School Large reserves
- Old Hall School Healthy
- Archers Brook SEMH School Healthy
- Warren Wood - A Specialist Academy Large reserves
- Athena School Large reserves
- Kingsmead School Large reserves
- Welburn Hall School In deficit
- Southlands School In deficit
- Cloughwood Academy Large reserves
- Shenstone Lodge School Heading for deficit
- Discovery Academy Large reserves
- The Ropemakers' Academy In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.5m | £36,217 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £958k | £7,699 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £144k | £1,154 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £122k | £981 |
Money raised by parents
VILLA REAL SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (charity 1062793, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £11k | £6k |
2024-08 | £7k | £3k |
2023-08 | £7k | £27k |
2022-08 | £9k | £3k |
2021-08 | £10k | £9k |
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 bought-in services is £2,820 a pupil, against a typical £635 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,977 a pupil, against a typical £1,323 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 Villa Real School · All County Durham school finances