Saffron Walden County High School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 3 years running; at that rate its £814k reserve runs out in about 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Essex · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SAFFRON ACADEMY 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 | £12.1m | £11.8m | +£290k | £842k | 2,102 |
2019-20 | £12.7m | £12.2m | +£481k | £872k | 2,104 |
2020-21 | £12.6m | £12.1m | +£566k | £978k | 2,144 |
2021-22 | £13.6m | £12.9m | +£698k | £1.1m | 2,148 |
2022-23 | £13.9m | £14.4m | -£423k | £0 | 2,147 |
2023-24 | £15.9m | £16.1m | -£182k | £121k | 2,126 |
2024-25 | £15.9m | £16.4m | -£585k | £814k | 2,119 |
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 40% of them. It spends £7,759 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,176.
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 | £4,724 | £4,161 | £3,912–£4,489 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £726 | £691 | £594–£867 |
Supply staff | £-15 | £79 | £38–£117 |
Admin and clerical | £265 | £366 | £260–£459 |
Premises | £339 | £364 | £307–£418 |
Energy | £147 | £113 | £100–£141 |
Learning resources & ICT | £784 | £613 | £404–£687 |
Bought-in services | £-1 | £72 | £29–£105 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Gordano School Large reserves
- Harrogate Grammar School Large reserves
- Great Sankey High School Tight
- South Hunsley School and Sixth Form College Large reserves
- Kenilworth School and Sixth Form Large reserves
- Rushcliffe Spencer Academy Tight
- Beauchamp College Large reserves
- Bennett Memorial Diocesan School Large reserves
- The King John School Large reserves
- St Aidan's Church of England High School Large reserves
- Ilkley Grammar School Healthy
- George Abbot School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £13.5m | £6,378 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £543k | £256 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £2.3m | £1,105 |
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 learning resources & ict is £784 a pupil, against a typical £613 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.
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