The Island Free School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £908k in reserve, 19% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Isle of Wight · Secondary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ISLAND COMMUNITY 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 | £3.9m | £3.7m | +£179k | £326k | 620 |
2019-20 | £3.8m | £3.6m | +£216k | £538k | 619 |
2020-21 | £4.0m | £3.7m | +£320k | £853k | 621 |
2021-22 | £4.1m | £3.9m | +£205k | £1.1m | 622 |
2022-23 | £4.5m | £4.4m | +£77k | £1.1m | 622 |
2023-24 | £4.8m | £4.7m | +£140k | £1.2m | 623 |
2024-25 | £4.8m | £5.1m | -£300k | £908k | 619 |
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 87% of them. It spends £8,260 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,567.
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 | £4,410 | £4,163 | £3,918–£4,376 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,068 | £813 | £565–£1,075 |
Supply staff | £0 | £134 | £49–£209 |
Admin and clerical | £546 | £429 | £338–£614 |
Premises | £391 | £424 | £355–£595 |
Energy | £134 | £140 | £109–£173 |
Learning resources & ICT | £958 | £472 | £398–£589 |
Bought-in services | £48 | £124 | £63–£201 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Preston Muslim Girls High School Heading for deficit
- Ferndown Middle School Healthy
- Selwood Academy Large reserves
- South Molton Community College In deficit
- King's Academy Ringmer In deficit
- Alcester Academy Large reserves
- Gilbert Inglefield Academy In deficit
- Holbrook Academy Large reserves
- Highworth Warneford School Heading for deficit
- Grays Convent High School In deficit
- Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary Academy In deficit
- Parkside Middle School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.0m | £8,015 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £150k | £242 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £199k | £321 |
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 learning resources & ict is £958 a pupil, against a typical £472 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 Island Free School · All Isle of Wight school finances