The Basildon Lower Academy: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £1.5m reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Essex · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE BASILDON ACADEMIES can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Reserve at the end of each year, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £4.6m | £3.7m | +£931k | £145k | 623 |
2019-20 | £5.7m | £4.2m | +£1.5m | £459k | 788 |
2020-21 | £6.1m | £4.8m | +£1.3m | £955k | 838 |
2021-22 | £7.2m | £5.7m | +£1.5m | £1.3m | 958 |
2022-23 | £7.2m | £7.7m | -£414k | £1.4m | 925 |
2023-24 | £6.3m | £9.2m | -£2.9m | £844k | 1,014 |
2024-25 | £8.4m | £9.5m | -£1.1m | £1.5m | 915 |
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 93% of them. It spends £10,369 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,896.
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 | £4,383 | £4,614 | £4,326–£5,273 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,908 | £1,067 | £932–£1,266 |
Supply staff | £130 | £267 | £118–£372 |
Admin and clerical | £816 | £449 | £326–£559 |
Premises | £539 | £508 | £386–£919 |
Energy | £306 | £177 | £76–£231 |
Learning resources & ICT | £402 | £575 | £450–£746 |
Bought-in services | £101 | £137 | £41–£210 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Prescot School Large reserves
- Nottingham University Samworth Academy Large reserves
- Ormiston Chadwick Academy Large reserves
- Dixons Unity Academy Large reserves
- Bridlington School Large reserves
- Havelock Academy Large reserves
- Grace Academy Solihull Large reserves
- Saint Paul's Catholic High School Healthy
- North Huddersfield Trust School Large reserves
- Kingsmeadow Community School Heading for deficit
- The Academy of St Nicholas Large reserves
- King James I Academy Bishop Auckland Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.8m | £9,564 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £78k | £85 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £315k | £344 |
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 admin and clerical is £816 a pupil, against a typical £449 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,908 a pupil, against a typical £1,067 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £306 a pupil, against a typical £177 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 Basildon Lower Academy · All Essex school finances