Poplar Adolescent Unit: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £310k in reserve, 61% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Essex · 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 | £338k | £344k | -£5k | £71k | 12 |
2019-20 | £352k | £357k | -£5k | £66k | 13 |
2020-21 | £371k | £363k | +£8k | £74k | 11 |
2021-22 | £351k | £363k | -£12k | £61k | 10 |
2022-23 | £485k | £369k | +£116k | £177k | 9 |
2023-24 | £471k | £428k | +£42k | £219k | 9 |
2024-25 | £492k | £441k | +£51k | £270k | 5 |
2025-26 | £511k | £472k | +£40k | £310k | 10 |
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 83% of them. It spends £47,169 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £38,428.
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 | £32,968 | £21,310 | £16,700–£27,326 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,011 | £4,498 | £2,798–£8,575 |
Supply staff | £0 | £89 | £0–£1,777 |
Admin and clerical | £3,301 | £1,914 | £762–£3,627 |
Premises | £5 | £888 | £174–£1,896 |
Energy | £0 | £312 | £0–£724 |
Learning resources & ICT | £650 | £1,219 | £896–£1,980 |
Bought-in services | £1,241 | £877 | £342–£1,691 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- CAMHS Phoenix School Large reserves
- First Base Ipswich Academy Large reserves
- The Surrey Teaching Centre Large reserves
- First Base Bury St Edmunds Heading for deficit
- The St Aubyn Centre Education Department Large reserves
- Triple Crown Centre Large reserves
- Birchwood Large reserves
- St Christopher's Academy Large reserves
- Merit Hospital School and Medical Pupil Referral Unit In deficit
- Great Park School Large reserves
- The Hope Service Tight
- Devon Hospitals' Short Stay School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £510k | £51,039 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £350k | £35,039 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £895 | £90 |
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 17% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on teachers is £32,968 a pupil, against a typical £21,310 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 Poplar Adolescent Unit · All Essex school finances