The Heights Blackburn: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £1.9m in reserve, 58% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Blackburn with Darwen · Not applicable · Free schools alternative provision.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP 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 | £2.0m | £1.8m | +£212k | £288k | 124 |
2019-20 | £2.3m | £1.9m | +£342k | £531k | 148 |
2020-21 | £2.7m | £1.9m | +£758k | £1.2m | 127 |
2021-22 | £2.7m | £2.2m | +£496k | £1.6m | 128 |
2022-23 | £2.8m | £2.6m | +£172k | £1.6m | — |
2023-24 | £3.2m | £2.9m | +£371k | £1.8m | 2 |
2024-25 | £3.3m | £3.1m | +£252k | £1.9m | 110 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 97% of them. It spends £27,818 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,548.
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 | £10,464 | £13,556 | £10,637–£20,339 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £7,627 | £4,091 | £2,485–£6,038 |
Supply staff | £2,245 | £500 | £42–£930 |
Admin and clerical | £1,736 | £1,749 | £1,230–£1,985 |
Premises | £1,509 | £1,309 | £984–£1,590 |
Energy | £427 | £362 | £212–£493 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,245 | £1,219 | £726–£2,052 |
Bought-in services | £373 | £834 | £501–£1,480 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Stevenage Education Support Centre Large reserves
- St Wilfrid's Academy, Doncaster Large reserves
- Tuition, Medical and Behaviour Support Service Heading for deficit
- Greys Education Centre Healthy
- The Eaglewood School Large reserves
- Meadowbrook College In deficit
- Pathways Learning Centre In deficit
- Pinderfields Hospital PRU Large reserves
- Mid Essex Co-Operative Academy Large reserves
- The Key Education Centre Large reserves
- Nottingham HOPE Academy Large reserves
- The Bridge Education Centre Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.6m | £32,445 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £312k | £2,836 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £74k | £673 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 11% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £2,245 a pupil, against a typical £500 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £7,627 a pupil, against a typical £4,091 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 Heights Blackburn · All Blackburn with Darwen school finances