Sir John Thursby Community College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £757k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Lancashire · Secondary · Foundation 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 | £8.1m | £8.0m | +£30k | £811k | 1,095 |
2019-20 | £8.5m | £8.6m | -£150k | £661k | 1,123 |
2020-21 | £8.7m | £8.3m | +£425k | £1.1m | 1,129 |
2021-22 | £9.2m | £8.9m | +£300k | £1.4m | 1,120 |
2022-23 | £9.7m | £10.1m | -£417k | £969k | 1,125 |
2023-24 | £10.4m | £10.6m | -£148k | £821k | 1,121 |
2024-25 | £11.4m | £11.3m | +£72k | £893k | 1,118 |
2025-26 | £11.7m | £11.9m | -£136k | £757k | 1,122 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary 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 30% of them. It spends £10,571 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,003.
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 | £4,840 | £4,474 | £4,045–£4,729 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,117 | £1,014 | £849–£1,162 |
Supply staff | £198 | £188 | £96–£259 |
Admin and clerical | £594 | £408 | £376–£475 |
Premises | £1,816 | £442 | £374–£520 |
Energy | £263 | £161 | £119–£190 |
Learning resources & ICT | £555 | £483 | £391–£603 |
Bought-in services | £327 | £76 | £44–£180 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Outwood Academy Hemsworth Large reserves
- Lipson Co-operative Academy Large reserves
- The Charles Dickens School Large reserves
- Mortimer Community College Healthy
- Pool Hayes Academy Tight
- Rawmarsh Community School Large reserves
- Seaham High School Large reserves
- Harwich and Dovercourt High School Large reserves
- St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy Large reserves
- Grace College Healthy
- The University of Birmingham School Large reserves
- Leigh Academy Minster Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.4m | £10,146 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £416k | £371 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £463k | £413 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £341k | £304 |
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 £327 a pupil, against a typical £76 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,816 a pupil, against a typical £442 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £263 a pupil, against a typical £161 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £594 a pupil, against a typical £408 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 Sir John Thursby Community College · All Lancashire school finances