Aldridge School - A Science College: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £3.1m in reserve, 24% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Walsall · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE MERCIAN 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 | £8.8m | £9.2m | -£357k | £1.5m | 1,502 |
2019-20 | £8.8m | £8.5m | +£281k | £1.4m | 1,521 |
2020-21 | £9.3m | £8.9m | +£421k | £1.7m | 1,559 |
2021-22 | £10.2m | £8.6m | +£1.5m | £2.2m | 1,581 |
2022-23 | £10.6m | £9.7m | +£985k | £2.4m | 1,604 |
2023-24 | £11.8m | £10.4m | +£1.4m | £0 | 1,593 |
2024-25 | £12.7m | £11.8m | +£851k | £3.1m | 1,593 |
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 93% of them. It spends £7,411 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,830.
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 | £4,223 | £4,406 | £4,102–£4,653 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,021 | £832 | £674–£968 |
Supply staff | £267 | £139 | £58–£238 |
Admin and clerical | £173 | £461 | £300–£562 |
Premises | £380 | £436 | £356–£843 |
Energy | £109 | £142 | £110–£156 |
Learning resources & ICT | £501 | £449 | £377–£614 |
Bought-in services | £143 | £111 | £19–£178 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Thornleigh Salesian College Large reserves
- Northfield School and Sports College Healthy
- Chorlton High School Healthy
- Towers School and Sixth Form Centre Large reserves
- Lift Tendring Large reserves
- Soar Valley College Large reserves
- Lift Kingswood Large reserves
- Woodlands School Large reserves
- The McAuley Catholic High School Heading for deficit
- St Thomas More Catholic High School Healthy
- Ecclesfield School Healthy
- Trinity CofE High School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £12.1m | £7,609 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £399k | £250 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £535k | £336 |
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 supply staff is £267 a pupil, against a typical £139 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 Aldridge School - A Science College · All Walsall school finances