Polden Bower School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.1m in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Somerset · Not applicable · Foundation 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 | £1.9m | £2.2m | -£228k | £92k | 88 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.3m | +£185k | £277k | 84 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£125k | £403k | 91 |
2021-22 | £3.8m | £3.5m | +£317k | £720k | 171 |
2022-23 | £4.8m | £4.6m | +£177k | £896k | 194 |
2023-24 | £5.6m | £5.6m | +£95k | £992k | 223 |
2024-25 | £7.1m | £7.0m | +£133k | £1.1m | 247 |
2025-26 | £8.9m | £8.9m | +£193 | £1.1m | 260 |
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 57% of them. It spends £34,129 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,117.
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 | £10,941 | £10,331 | £9,249–£11,530 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,210 | £10,029 | £8,232–£11,785 |
Supply staff | £919 | £291 | £14–£887 |
Admin and clerical | £2,319 | £1,121 | £812–£1,380 |
Premises | £2,212 | £1,290 | £1,033–£1,493 |
Energy | £509 | £392 | £252–£452 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,186 | £712 | £593–£893 |
Bought-in services | £3,140 | £571 | £263–£1,325 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Ivel Valley School & College Tight
- The St Christopher School Large reserves
- Tor View School Large reserves
- St Anthony's School In deficit
- Philip Southcote School Large reserves
- The Fountains High School Large reserves
- Laleham Gap School Healthy
- Birch Wood (Melton Area Special School) Large reserves
- Hill Park School Healthy
- Sherbourne Fields School Large reserves
- Ravenscliffe High School Large reserves
- Woodlands Secondary School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.8m | £30,022 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £3.7m | £14,251 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £148k | £568 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £1.1m | £4,368 |
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 £3,140 a pupil, against a typical £571 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,319 a pupil, against a typical £1,121 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,212 a pupil, against a typical £1,290 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,186 a pupil, against a typical £712 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 Polden Bower School · All Somerset school finances