The Commonweal School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.1m in reserve, 11% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 4 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Swindon · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE COMMONWEAL SCHOOL 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 | £8.2m | £8.2m | +£20k | £428k | 1,386 |
2019-20 | £8.2m | £8.3m | -£97k | £595k | 1,386 |
2020-21 | £8.4m | £8.2m | +£207k | £1.1m | 1,384 |
2021-22 | £8.4m | £8.4m | -£57k | £1.6m | 1,408 |
2022-23 | £8.4m | £8.7m | -£345k | £1.2m | 1,392 |
2023-24 | £9.6m | £9.6m | -£45k | £1.1m | 1,398 |
2024-25 | £10.3m | £10.3m | -£16k | £1.1m | 1,384 |
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 £7,470 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,504.
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 | £4,520 | £4,263 | £4,108–£4,626 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £991 | £689 | £614–£811 |
Supply staff | £0 | £78 | £25–£110 |
Admin and clerical | £493 | £459 | £399–£592 |
Premises | £313 | £407 | £359–£475 |
Energy | £145 | £129 | £108–£146 |
Learning resources & ICT | £634 | £481 | £373–£579 |
Bought-in services | £84 | £87 | £45–£145 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Harris Academy Chafford Hundred Large reserves
- Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School In deficit
- Deyes High School In deficit
- Hele's School Tight
- Hazel Grove High School Tight
- The Corsham School Large reserves
- Holmfirth High School Large reserves
- Ralph Allen School In deficit
- The Blue School Healthy
- St Peter's Catholic School In deficit
- Churchdown School Large reserves
- The Duchess's Community High School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.4m | £7,494 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £329k | £238 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £82k | £59 |
Money raised by parents
THE COMMONWEAL PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION (charity 293051, Registered) raised £17k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-08 | £17k | £10k |
2025-08 | £20k | £19k |
2024-08 | £10k | £14k |
2023-08 | £11k | £9k |
2022-08 | £10k | £14k |
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 are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £991 a pupil, against a typical £689 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.
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