Millfield School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £454k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · Secondary · Community 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 | £4.8m | £4.8m | +£2k | £127k | 847 |
2019-20 | £5.1m | £5.0m | +£50k | £177k | 854 |
2020-21 | £5.2m | £4.9m | +£300k | £477k | 863 |
2021-22 | £5.6m | £5.3m | +£322k | £799k | 871 |
2022-23 | £5.9m | £5.8m | +£115k | £915k | 868 |
2023-24 | £6.3m | £6.5m | -£204k | £711k | 873 |
2024-25 | £6.7m | £6.8m | -£49k | £662k | 873 |
2025-26 | £6.8m | £7.0m | -£208k | £454k | 877 |
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 50% of them. It spends £7,979 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,522.
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 | £4,727 | £4,319 | £4,034–£4,621 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £805 | £747 | £518–£930 |
Supply staff | £216 | £146 | £87–£187 |
Admin and clerical | £440 | £405 | £323–£499 |
Premises | £431 | £409 | £357–£494 |
Energy | £131 | £149 | £121–£186 |
Learning resources & ICT | £348 | £477 | £418–£606 |
Bought-in services | £179 | £145 | £62–£254 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Cottingham High School Large reserves
- Sir John Nelthorpe School Large reserves
- Cottenham Village College Healthy
- Dowdales School In deficit
- Sir John Talbot's School Large reserves
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Tight
- St Patrick's RC High School Heading for deficit
- Alleyne's Academy Large reserves
- John Flamsteed Community School Large reserves
- The Wilnecote School Healthy
- Dartford Science & Technology College Healthy
- Falmouth School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.5m | £7,467 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £118k | £135 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £238k | £271 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £242k | £275 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £216 a pupil, against a typical £146 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 Millfield School · All Lancashire school finances