Bedford Free School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £504k in reserve, 12% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bedford · Secondary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS 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 | £3.1m | £2.6m | +£473k | £1.9m | 502 |
2019-20 | £3.2m | £2.8m | +£361k | £2.2m | 507 |
2020-21 | £3.5m | £2.9m | +£544k | £1.3m | 504 |
2021-22 | £3.3m | £3.0m | +£286k | £2.6m | 499 |
2022-23 | £3.8m | £3.3m | +£463k | £2.9m | 508 |
2023-24 | £4.0m | £3.9m | +£190k | £2.9m | 529 |
2024-25 | £4.4m | £4.1m | +£249k | £504k | 526 |
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 67% of them. It spends £7,816 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,106.
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 | £4,994 | £4,377 | £4,127–£4,794 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £797 | £902 | £752–£1,109 |
Supply staff | £0 | £131 | £54–£218 |
Admin and clerical | £409 | £503 | £353–£666 |
Premises | £447 | £438 | £335–£514 |
Energy | £173 | £201 | £141–£236 |
Learning resources & ICT | £510 | £528 | £363–£621 |
Bought-in services | £118 | £106 | £63–£253 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Hayling College Heading for deficit
- Looe Community Academy In deficit
- Winterton Community Academy Large reserves
- Walney Academy In deficit
- Gracewood Academy In deficit
- Dedworth Middle School Large reserves
- Earl Mortimer College Large reserves
- St Dunstan's School Large reserves
- Daubeney Academy Large reserves
- The Ongar Academy Large reserves
- The Axholme Academy Large reserves
- St Cecilia's RC High School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.5m | £8,515 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £2k | £4 |
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?
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 Bedford Free School · All Bedford school finances