Forest Academy: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £362k, 21% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Croydon · Primary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: INSPIRE PARTNERSHIP ACADEMY 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 | £2.1m | £2.2m | -£53k | -£85k | 284 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.9m | -£186k | -£270k | 253 |
2020-21 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£59k | -£304k | 234 |
2021-22 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£99k | -£295k | 212 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.8m | -£15k | -£358k | 198 |
2023-24 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£44k | -£402k | 192 |
2024-25 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£86k | -£362k | 190 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 0% of them. It spends £8,654 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,923.
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 | £3,599 | £4,566 | £3,950–£5,154 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,646 | £1,988 | £1,471–£2,466 |
Supply staff | £179 | £550 | £181–£904 |
Admin and clerical | £538 | £590 | £434–£858 |
Premises | £950 | £688 | £539–£861 |
Energy | £385 | £180 | £106–£248 |
Learning resources & ICT | £111 | £397 | £287–£555 |
Bought-in services | £248 | £696 | £306–£1,287 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- St Stephen's Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Henry Fawcett Primary School Large reserves
- Gainsborough Primary School Healthy
- St Edward's Catholic Primary School Healthy
- St James' CofE Primary School Large reserves
- St Mary's CofE Primary School Healthy
- St Augustines Federated Schools: CofE Primary School Large reserves
- Robert Browning Primary School Large reserves
- Laycock Primary School In deficit
- St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School Heading for deficit
- Alderwood Primary School Large reserves
- Tower Bridge Primary School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £8,982 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £39k | £206 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £24k | £127 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Is there a deficit recovery plan agreed with its trust, and when does the school expect to be back in balance?
- What has been cut or changed to close the gap, and how does that affect classes and support staff?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 33% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on energy is £385 a pupil, against a typical £180 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £950 a pupil, against a typical £688 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 Forest Academy · All Croydon school finances