St Thomas's Centre: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £348k in reserve, 9% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Blackburn with Darwen · Not applicable · Pupil referral unit.
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 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£128k | £144k | 190 |
2019-20 | £2.7m | £2.6m | +£65k | £209k | 200 |
2020-21 | £2.9m | £2.7m | +£184k | £394k | 164 |
2021-22 | £3.2m | £3.2m | -£46k | £348k | 144 |
2022-23 | £3.3m | £3.4m | -£79k | £269k | 177 |
2023-24 | £3.6m | £3.4m | +£177k | £446k | 157 |
2024-25 | £3.4m | £3.8m | -£346k | £100k | 137 |
2025-26 | £3.9m | £3.7m | +£248k | £348k | 141 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 £26,009 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,400.
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 | £11,445 | £13,547 | £9,610–£16,864 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £3,983 | £4,511 | £2,676–£6,153 |
Supply staff | £0 | £769 | £280–£1,243 |
Admin and clerical | £2,900 | £1,493 | £987–£1,915 |
Premises | £2,052 | £1,142 | £886–£1,490 |
Energy | £446 | £298 | £212–£429 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,463 | £1,447 | £1,040–£2,292 |
Bought-in services | £1,927 | £844 | £176–£1,480 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- River Tees Secondary Academy Large reserves
- North East Essex Co-operative Academy In deficit
- Mid Essex Co-Operative Academy Large reserves
- EOTAS Swindon Tight
- Shaftesbury High School Healthy
- The Academy of Central Bedfordshire Large reserves
- Pinderfields Hospital PRU Large reserves
- Pathways Learning Centre In deficit
- Solihull Alternative Provision Academy Healthy
- The Hub School Healthy
- Danesgate Community Tight
- The Bridge Education Centre Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.7m | £26,316 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £800k | £5,676 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £91k | £643 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £205k | £1,451 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 26% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,927 a pupil, against a typical £844 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £2,900 a pupil, against a typical £1,493 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £2,052 a pupil, against a typical £1,142 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 Thomas's Centre · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances