Unity College: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £651k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
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 | £7.6m | £7.5m | +£161k | £410k | 1,140 |
2019-20 | £8.1m | £7.9m | +£148k | £558k | 1,201 |
2020-21 | £8.6m | £8.2m | +£460k | £1.0m | 1,244 |
2021-22 | £9.3m | £8.8m | +£474k | £1.5m | 1,299 |
2022-23 | £10.7m | £10.6m | +£39k | £1.5m | 1,380 |
2023-24 | £11.9m | £12.4m | -£452k | £1.1m | 1,438 |
2024-25 | £13.5m | £13.6m | -£130k | £949k | 1,416 |
2025-26 | £13.9m | £14.2m | -£298k | £651k | 1,404 |
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 20% of them. It spends £10,114 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,843.
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 | £5,083 | £4,504 | £4,260–£4,787 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,217 | £908 | £688–£1,107 |
Supply staff | £346 | £89 | £35–£173 |
Admin and clerical | £595 | £389 | £263–£466 |
Premises | £1,287 | £360 | £324–£530 |
Energy | £267 | £144 | £111–£170 |
Learning resources & ICT | £420 | £444 | £337–£663 |
Bought-in services | £315 | £81 | £53–£189 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Holmleigh Park High School Large reserves
- University Academy Holbeach Healthy
- Nicholas Chamberlaine School Large reserves
- The Pingle Academy Large reserves
- Brinsworth Academy Large reserves
- Biddenham International School and Sports College In deficit
- Heanor Gate Spencer Academy Large reserves
- Torquay Academy Large reserves
- St Wilfrid's RC College Large reserves
- Brockhill Park Performing Arts College Large reserves
- Q3 Academy Langley Large reserves
- Saint Benedict, A Catholic Voluntary Academy In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £13.1m | £9,312 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £426k | £303 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £582k | £414 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £829k | £590 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on bought-in services is £315 a pupil, against a typical £81 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £346 a pupil, against a typical £89 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,287 a pupil, against a typical £360 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £267 a pupil, against a typical £144 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £595 a pupil, against a typical £389 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 Unity College · All Lancashire school finances