The Collett School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £553k in reserve, 16% 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). Hertfordshire · 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 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£66k | £161k | 123 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.2m | +£200k | £360k | 127 |
2020-21 | £2.2m | £2.3m | -£40k | £321k | 129 |
2021-22 | £2.4m | £2.4m | -£19k | £302k | 133 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.5m | +£202k | £504k | 130 |
2023-24 | £2.9m | £2.7m | +£147k | £651k | 127 |
2024-25 | £3.0m | £3.0m | -£9k | £641k | 128 |
2025-26 | £3.5m | £3.6m | -£88k | £553k | 128 |
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 77% of them. It spends £27,954 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,975.
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 | £13,872 | £9,710 | £8,511–£11,245 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £7,041 | £10,843 | £9,448–£13,562 |
Supply staff | £74 | £236 | £87–£769 |
Admin and clerical | £1,402 | £1,300 | £1,025–£1,582 |
Premises | £1,331 | £1,484 | £1,088–£2,689 |
Energy | £217 | £442 | £320–£512 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,127 | £811 | £455–£1,343 |
Bought-in services | £1,745 | £549 | £198–£1,122 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Two Rivers Primary School Large reserves
- The Meadows School Large reserves
- Springwater Academy Healthy
- Hebden Green Community School Healthy
- Lancaster School Large reserves
- Mill Water School Large reserves
- Churchward School Tight
- The Clare School Large reserves
- Mayfield School Healthy
- Blackfriars Academy Large reserves
- Kingsdown School Large reserves
- Delamere School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.5m | £27,302 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.2m | £9,093 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £66k | £512 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £75k | £589 |
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 £1,745 a pupil, against a typical £549 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £13,872 a pupil, against a typical £9,710 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 Collett School · All Hertfordshire school finances