Ancora House School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £368k in reserve, 16% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Cheshire West and Chester · 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 | £804k | £803k | +£614 | £109k | 43 |
2019-20 | £829k | £839k | -£10k | £100k | 32 |
2020-21 | £995k | £885k | +£110k | £210k | 34 |
2021-22 | £1.1m | £1.1m | +£34k | £244k | 31 |
2022-23 | £1.2m | £1.3m | -£95k | £149k | 40 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£75k | £224k | 33 |
2024-25 | £1.8m | £1.8m | +£90k | £257k | 58 |
2025-26 | £2.3m | £2.2m | +£111k | £368k | 53 |
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 40% of them. It spends £40,875 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £30,796.
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 | £21,367 | £17,862 | £11,810–£21,114 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £7,801 | £3,831 | £2,285–£7,269 |
Supply staff | £2,015 | £223 | £0–£1,776 |
Admin and clerical | £3,202 | £1,690 | £838–£2,873 |
Premises | £697 | £1,068 | £192–£1,638 |
Energy | £0 | £358 | £28–£533 |
Learning resources & ICT | £2,089 | £1,176 | £818–£1,893 |
Bought-in services | £694 | £617 | £111–£1,023 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Roman Fields Academy Large reserves
- Hospital and Outreach Education Large reserves
- Acorn Free School Large reserves
- East Birmingham Network Academy Large reserves
- Ebn Academy 2 Large reserves
- Horizon School Large reserves
- Cherry Tree Learning Centre Large reserves
- Beacon of Light School Large reserves
- CP Riverside School Large reserves
- King's Leadership Phoenix Academy Tight
- Community & Hospital Education Service Ap Academy Large reserves
- Enterprise Learning Alliance Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.3m | £42,941 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £16k | £308 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £11k | £201 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £2k | £35 |
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 supply staff is £2,015 a pupil, against a typical £223 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,202 a pupil, against a typical £1,690 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £2,089 a pupil, against a typical £1,176 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 Ancora House School · All Cheshire West and Chester school finances