Watford Grammar School for Boys: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 2 years running; at that rate its £266k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Hertfordshire · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: WATFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR BOYS 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 | £8.1m | £10.4m | -£2.3m | £250k | 1,369 |
2019-20 | £8.6m | £7.7m | +£909k | £163k | 1,427 |
2020-21 | £8.7m | £8.8m | -£96k | £464k | 1,456 |
2021-22 | £9.3m | £10.5m | -£1.2m | £610k | 1,516 |
2022-23 | £12.0m | £11.9m | +£80k | £581k | 1,533 |
2023-24 | £11.5m | £12.0m | -£442k | £309k | 1,557 |
2024-25 | £12.5m | £12.6m | -£74k | £266k | 1,610 |
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 13% of them. It spends £7,807 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,250.
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 | £4,660 | £4,357 | £4,080–£4,603 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £936 | £488 | £391–£701 |
Supply staff | £1 | £44 | £7–£83 |
Admin and clerical | £273 | £429 | £370–£581 |
Premises | £522 | £374 | £300–£413 |
Energy | £145 | £120 | £112–£137 |
Learning resources & ICT | £907 | £764 | £599–£963 |
Bought-in services | £132 | £63 | £35–£82 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Andrew's Catholic School Large reserves
- St Clement Danes School Large reserves
- Rickmansworth School Large reserves
- Invicta Grammar School Large reserves
- St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking Large reserves
- Edgbarrow School Healthy
- Backwell School Large reserves
- Tomlinscote School Large reserves
- Rosebery School Large reserves
- Redland Green School Large reserves
- Weydon School Large reserves
- Glyn School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £12.0m | £7,458 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £324k | £201 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £544k | £338 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF WATFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOR BOYS (charity 1073843, Registered) raised £10k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £10k | £202 |
2024-08 | £18k | £11k |
2023-08 | £20k | £26k |
2022-08 | £18k | £21k |
2021-08 | £7k | £10k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
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 £132 a pupil, against a typical £63 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £936 a pupil, against a typical £488 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £522 a pupil, against a typical £374 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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 Watford Grammar School for Boys · All Hertfordshire school finances