The Blue School: school finances
Healthy
Holds £566k in reserve, 5% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Somerset · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE BLUE 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 | £8.5m | £9.7m | -£1.2m | £1.2m | 1,514 |
2019-20 | £8.6m | £8.7m | -£155k | £1.1m | 1,474 |
2020-21 | £8.9m | £10.1m | -£1.2m | £560k | 1,508 |
2021-22 | £9.3m | £10.1m | -£758k | £586k | 1,500 |
2022-23 | £9.9m | £10.0m | -£113k | £471k | 1,464 |
2023-24 | £11.5m | £11.0m | +£555k | £535k | 1,434 |
2024-25 | £12.3m | £12.3m | +£11k | £566k | 1,358 |
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 43% of them. It spends £9,077 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,428.
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 | £4,271 | £4,356 | £4,144–£4,591 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £675 | £679 | £550–£803 |
Supply staff | £449 | £88 | £28–£164 |
Admin and clerical | £399 | £496 | £388–£552 |
Premises | £1,875 | £387 | £327–£455 |
Energy | £149 | £128 | £110–£145 |
Learning resources & ICT | £382 | £436 | £365–£565 |
Bought-in services | £90 | £89 | £47–£144 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Mary's Catholic High School, A Catholic Voluntary Academy Heading for deficit
- The Duchess's Community High School Healthy
- Oaklands Catholic School Tight
- Ralph Allen School In deficit
- Carmel College Large reserves
- Harris Academy Chafford Hundred Large reserves
- Lady Manners School Tight
- Deyes High School In deficit
- William Howard School In deficit
- Tytherington School In deficit
- The Commonweal School Large reserves
- The Corsham School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.3m | £8,292 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £240k | £177 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £514k | £378 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 10% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £449 a pupil, against a typical £88 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £1,875 a pupil, against a typical £387 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for The Blue School · All Somerset school finances