Oak Grove College: school finances
Tight
Holds £19k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Sussex · 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 | £4.9m | £5.1m | -£220k | -£234k | 245 |
2019-20 | £5.0m | £5.5m | -£481k | -£714k | 250 |
2020-21 | £5.5m | £5.4m | +£125k | -£590k | 260 |
2021-22 | £6.1m | £5.6m | +£457k | -£132k | 266 |
2022-23 | £6.6m | £6.2m | +£341k | £209k | 275 |
2023-24 | £7.1m | £7.1m | -£72k | £137k | 273 |
2024-25 | £7.9m | £8.0m | -£121k | £16k | 279 |
2025-26 | £8.5m | £8.5m | +£3k | £19k | 275 |
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 3% of them. It spends £30,750 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,652.
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 | £12,939 | £10,022 | £9,143–£11,297 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £10,350 | £9,535 | £6,954–£12,875 |
Supply staff | £52 | £253 | £48–£915 |
Admin and clerical | £1,253 | £990 | £786–£1,282 |
Premises | £1,404 | £1,246 | £1,107–£1,746 |
Energy | £410 | £392 | £266–£626 |
Learning resources & ICT | £838 | £809 | £633–£1,014 |
Bought-in services | £1,902 | £384 | £245–£867 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Two Rivers High School Large reserves
- James Brindley School Large reserves
- Stubbin Wood School Large reserves
- Mayfield School In deficit
- Cleaswell Hill School Large reserves
- Chellow Heights Special School Healthy
- Sir Tom Finney Community High School Healthy
- Chiltern Way Academy Large reserves
- Regency High School Large reserves
- Brackenfield Special School Large reserves
- Ifield School Healthy
- Newton Bridge Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.3m | £30,112 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.9m | £10,690 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £146k | £531 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £178k | £649 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF OAK GROVE COLLEGE (charity 271168, Registered) raised £13k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-12 | £13k | £14k |
2024-12 | £53k | £45k |
2023-12 | £14k | £5k |
2022-12 | £5k | £12k |
2021-12 | £7k | £16k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,902 a pupil, against a typical £384 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on teachers is £12,939 a pupil, against a typical £10,022 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Oak Grove College · All West Sussex school finances