Schools in Reach

The Castle School: school finances

Large reserves

Holds £1.7m in reserve, 18% of a year's income.

Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Somerset · Secondary · Academy converter.

Reserve at year end
£1.7m18% of a year's income
Last year's balance
+£413kincome minus spending
Income per pupil
£7,885
Pupils
1,203+1% since 2018-19

Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: BLACKDOWN EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP 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

£0£1.0m£2.0m2018-19: £1.6m reserve2018-192019-20: £1.9m reserve2019-202020-21: £2.3m reserve2020-212021-22: £2.5m reserve2021-222022-23: £2.1m reserve2022-232023-24: £1.5m reserve2023-242024-25: £1.7m reserve2024-25

Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25

Income Spending

£5.0m£6.0m£7.0m£8.0m£9.0mIncomeSpending2018-19: income £6.2m, spending £6.1m2018-192019-20: income £7.2m, spending £7.0m2019-202020-21: income £7.4m, spending £6.9m2020-212021-22: income £8.0m, spending £8.6m2021-222022-23: income £8.4m, spending £8.1m2022-232023-24: income £8.6m, spending £8.4m2023-242024-25: income £9.5m, spending £9.1m2024-25
Show the figures as a table
YearIncomeSpendingBalanceReservePupils
2018-19
£6.2m
£6.1m
+£144k
£1.6m
1,188
2019-20
£7.2m
£7.0m
+£115k
£1.9m
1,196
2020-21
£7.4m
£6.9m
+£544k
£2.3m
1,201
2021-22
£8.0m
£8.6m
-£573k
£2.5m
1,199
2022-23
£8.4m
£8.1m
+£300k
£2.1m
1,199
2023-24
£8.6m
£8.4m
+£179k
£1.5m
1,204
2024-25
£9.5m
£9.1m
+£413k
£1.7m
1,203

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 87% of them. It spends £7,542 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,449.

This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median

Teachers: this school £4,431 per pupil; similar schools £4,354 (middle half £4,121–£4,515)Teachers£4,431Support staff (e.g. TAs): this school £858 per pupil; similar schools £634 (middle half £375–£868)Support staff (e.g. TAs)£858Supply staff: this school £68 per pupil; similar schools £61 (middle half £21–£144)Supply staff£68Admin and clerical: this school £289 per pupil; similar schools £462 (middle half £361–£521)Admin and clerical£289Premises: this school £451 per pupil; similar schools £404 (middle half £363–£493)Premises£451Energy: this school £114 per pupil; similar schools £132 (middle half £106–£157)Energy£114Learning resources & ICT: this school £603 per pupil; similar schools £580 (middle half £408–£704)Learning resources & ICT£603Bought-in services: this school £28 per pupil; similar schools £87 (middle half £22–£112)Bought-in services£28
Show the comparison as a table
Spending per pupilThis schoolSimilar schools (median)Middle half
Teachers
£4,431
£4,354
£4,121–£4,515
Support staff (e.g. TAs)
£858
£634
£375–£868
Supply staff
£68
£61
£21–£144
Admin and clerical
£289
£462
£361–£521
Premises
£451
£404
£363–£493
Energy
£114
£132
£106–£157
Learning resources & ICT
£603
£580
£408–£704
Bought-in services
£28
£87
£22–£112

Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools

Which schools are these?

Where the money comes from, 2024-25

SourceAmountPer pupil
Government grants
£9.0m
£7,474
SEN funding (part of grants)
£403k
£335
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations)
£516k
£429

Questions to ask the school

Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.

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 Castle School · All Somerset school finances