St John's Catholic Comprehensive: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £675k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Kent · 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 | £7.5m | £7.3m | +£212k | £371k | 1,187 |
2019-20 | £7.8m | £7.9m | -£97k | £274k | 1,212 |
2020-21 | £8.4m | £8.3m | +£90k | £364k | 1,237 |
2021-22 | £8.9m | £8.9m | +£18k | £382k | 1,264 |
2022-23 | £9.6m | £9.4m | +£171k | £553k | 1,294 |
2023-24 | £10.4m | £10.1m | +£254k | £807k | 1,322 |
2024-25 | £11.0m | £11.0m | +£3k | £810k | 1,322 |
2025-26 | £11.4m | £11.6m | -£135k | £675k | 1,337 |
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 20% of them. It spends £8,661 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,385.
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 | £4,944 | £4,270 | £4,001–£4,474 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £745 | £856 | £582–£1,027 |
Supply staff | £157 | £80 | £36–£160 |
Admin and clerical | £252 | £336 | £271–£550 |
Premises | £1,748 | £394 | £326–£472 |
Energy | £1 | £148 | £109–£167 |
Learning resources & ICT | £368 | £421 | £363–£563 |
Bought-in services | £91 | £62 | £29–£147 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Temple Moor High School In deficit
- Holyrood Academy Large reserves
- Downham Market Academy Tight
- Westfield Academy Large reserves
- Queen Mary's Grammar School Large reserves
- Abbeyfield School Large reserves
- Frederick Gough School Large reserves
- Fulston Manor School Large reserves
- Worle Community School Large reserves
- Oxford Spires Academy Healthy
- The Westgate School Heading for deficit
- All Saints' Catholic High School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.5m | £8,571 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £130k | £97 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £314k | £235 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £31k | £23 |
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 premises is £1,748 a pupil, against a typical £394 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £4,944 a pupil, against a typical £4,270 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 John's Catholic Comprehensive · All Kent school finances