The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College: school finances
Tight
Holds £241k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Hertfordshire · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: HERTS & ESSEX MULTI 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 | £7.9m | £8.8m | -£918k | -£524k | 1,292 |
2019-20 | £8.2m | £8.5m | -£268k | -£551k | 1,267 |
2020-21 | £8.1m | £8.2m | -£123k | -£622k | 1,350 |
2021-22 | £9.3m | £9.0m | +£249k | £7k | 1,463 |
2022-23 | £10.1m | £9.8m | +£264k | £338k | 1,483 |
2023-24 | £11.1m | £10.7m | +£400k | £113k | 1,436 |
2024-25 | £11.7m | £11.3m | +£386k | £241k | 1,450 |
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 17% of them. It spends £7,799 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,659.
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 | £4,458 | £4,442 | £4,203–£4,653 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £192 | £588 | £436–£769 |
Supply staff | £1 | £48 | £9–£83 |
Admin and clerical | £877 | £504 | £377–£657 |
Premises | £535 | £382 | £336–£435 |
Energy | £114 | £124 | £112–£140 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,132 | £703 | £526–£933 |
Bought-in services | £92 | £75 | £51–£106 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Heckmondwike Grammar School Large reserves
- Thornden School Large reserves
- Balcarras School Tight
- Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Large reserves
- The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Healthy
- Parmiter's School In deficit
- Rosebery School Large reserves
- Edgbarrow School Healthy
- The Holt School Heading for deficit
- Watford Grammar School for Girls Large reserves
- Rickmansworth School Large reserves
- Bishop Stopford School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £11.7m | £8,042 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £33k | £23 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF THE HERTFORDSHIRE AND ESSEX HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (charity 286343, Registered) raised £8k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £8k | £3k |
2024-08 | £4k | £9k |
2023-08 | £3k | £2k |
2022-08 | £3k | £937 |
2021-08 | £7k | £10k |
Matched to this school by name and postcode from the Charity Commission register. Parent associations' money isn't in the school's accounts above.
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £877 a pupil, against a typical £504 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,132 a pupil, against a typical £703 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £535 a pupil, against a typical £382 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- How does the school decide what the money the parents' association raises is spent on?
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.
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