Debenham High School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £411k reserve runs out in about 3 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Suffolk · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: HEART OF SUFFOLK EDUCATION TRUST 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 | £3.9m | £3.8m | +£60k | £657k | 675 |
2019-20 | £4.0m | £3.8m | +£140k | £785k | 672 |
2020-21 | £4.0m | £3.8m | +£166k | £935k | 670 |
2021-22 | £4.2m | £4.3m | -£116k | £867k | 677 |
2022-23 | £4.5m | £4.6m | -£138k | £719k | 681 |
2023-24 | £4.9m | £5.1m | -£263k | £454k | 687 |
2024-25 | £5.2m | £5.3m | -£33k | £411k | 699 |
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 60% of them. It spends £7,545 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,022.
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 | £4,469 | £4,246 | £3,946–£4,338 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £587 | £714 | £476–£955 |
Supply staff | £10 | £90 | £64–£148 |
Admin and clerical | £558 | £386 | £309–£501 |
Premises | £242 | £363 | £304–£474 |
Energy | £103 | £117 | £88–£147 |
Learning resources & ICT | £579 | £533 | £382–£606 |
Bought-in services | £190 | £63 | £28–£96 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Arnold Academy Large reserves
- Endon High School Healthy
- The Priory Belvoir Academy Large reserves
- St Edward's Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Burscough Priory Academy Large reserves
- Glebelands School Large reserves
- Sexey's School In deficit
- Ryedale School In deficit
- Teesdale School and Sixth Form In deficit
- Kinver High School and Sixth Form Large reserves
- Alameda Middle School Large reserves
- Sybil Andrews Academy Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.0m | £7,122 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £101k | £144 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £268k | £383 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF DEBENHAM HIGH SCHOOL (charity 1019030, Registered) raised £11k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £11k | £14k |
2024-09 | £13k | £6k |
2023-09 | £7k | £10k |
2022-09 | £1k | £428 |
2021-09 | £1k | £123 |
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 £190 a pupil, against a typical £63 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £558 a pupil, against a typical £386 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 Debenham High School · All Suffolk school finances