The Orchard School: school finances
Tight
Holds £77k 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). Sandwell · 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 | £3.8m | £3.7m | +£39k | £463k | 148 |
2019-20 | £3.8m | £3.9m | -£84k | £379k | 147 |
2020-21 | £3.8m | £3.9m | -£33k | £346k | 144 |
2021-22 | £3.9m | £4.0m | -£62k | £284k | 145 |
2022-23 | £4.2m | £4.2m | -£35k | £249k | 147 |
2023-24 | £4.5m | £4.6m | -£137k | £112k | 146 |
2025-26 | £5.5m | £5.3m | +£123k | £77k | 173 |
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 10% of them. It spends £30,836 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,494.
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 | £9,617 | £9,822 | £8,775–£10,957 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £12,412 | £8,788 | £6,815–£12,299 |
Supply staff | £361 | £641 | £191–£1,500 |
Admin and clerical | £990 | £1,152 | £835–£1,399 |
Premises | £1,837 | £1,314 | £937–£1,499 |
Energy | £562 | £372 | £231–£459 |
Learning resources & ICT | £763 | £841 | £516–£1,410 |
Bought-in services | £1,670 | £769 | £264–£1,984 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The St Francis Special School, Lincoln In deficit
- Kingsweston School In deficit
- Southgate School Tight
- Mossbrook School Healthy
- Mill Green School Large reserves
- Heart of the Forest Community Special School Healthy
- Oscott Manor School Large reserves
- Pendle Community High School & College Healthy
- Pebble Brook School Large reserves
- Tweendykes School Large reserves
- Carwarden House Community School Large reserves
- Harry Watts Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.3m | £30,768 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.5m | £14,709 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £113k | £654 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £135k | £781 |
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 energy is £562 a pupil, against a typical £372 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,837 a pupil, against a typical £1,314 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 The Orchard School · All Sandwell school finances