The Bridge Education Centre: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £260k in reserve, 9% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Hampshire · Not applicable · Pupil referral unit.
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 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£99k | £330k | 89 |
2019-20 | £2.0m | £1.8m | +£194k | £524k | 100 |
2020-21 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£56k | £468k | 76 |
2021-22 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£66k | £535k | 89 |
2022-23 | £1.9m | £2.1m | -£187k | £348k | 91 |
2023-24 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£111k | £459k | 92 |
2024-25 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£125k | £334k | 93 |
2025-26 | £2.9m | £3.0m | -£73k | £260k | 99 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 63% of them. It spends £29,889 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £31,088.
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 | £12,329 | £13,974 | £10,722–£17,502 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £8,122 | £5,147 | £3,853–£6,352 |
Supply staff | £2,161 | £732 | £253–£1,559 |
Admin and clerical | £1,747 | £1,702 | £1,148–£2,399 |
Premises | £1,005 | £1,242 | £917–£1,642 |
Energy | £137 | £326 | £249–£456 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,305 | £1,423 | £972–£1,975 |
Bought-in services | £714 | £1,410 | £507–£3,140 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Herefordshire Pupil Referral Service Large reserves
- Trafford Alternative Education Provision Healthy
- Continu Plus Academy Healthy
- East Sussex Academy Tight
- Mid Essex Co-Operative Academy Large reserves
- The Ladder School In deficit
- Victory Park Academy Large reserves
- Rise Carr College Healthy
- The Academy of Central Bedfordshire Large reserves
- McKee College House Large reserves
- iCollege Alternative Provision Healthy
- Tuition, Medical and Behaviour Support Service Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.3m | £23,488 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £598k | £6,038 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £6k | £60 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £560k | £5,660 |
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 supply staff is £2,161 a pupil, against a typical £732 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £8,122 a pupil, against a typical £5,147 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 The Bridge Education Centre · All Hampshire school finances