Castledon School: school finances
In deficit
In deficit by £490k, 8% of a year's income: it has spent more over the years than it received. It has spent more than it received for 2 years running.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Essex · Not applicable · Academy special converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ZENITH 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 | £3.3m | £3.1m | +£147k | £355k | 195 |
2019-20 | £3.6m | £3.4m | +£151k | £500k | 216 |
2020-21 | £3.4m | £3.3m | +£110k | £503k | 222 |
2021-22 | £3.6m | £3.9m | -£283k | £218k | 224 |
2022-23 | £4.2m | £4.0m | +£179k | £132k | 223 |
2023-24 | £4.9m | £5.3m | -£363k | £0 | 236 |
2024-25 | £5.9m | £6.0m | -£79k | -£490k | 238 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special 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 0% of them. It spends £25,273 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £28,023.
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 | £10,832 | £10,899 | £9,636–£11,916 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £6,332 | £9,986 | £6,861–£12,827 |
Supply staff | £1,126 | £409 | £102–£957 |
Admin and clerical | £1,929 | £1,014 | £831–£1,324 |
Premises | £1,282 | £1,440 | £1,118–£1,947 |
Energy | £307 | £407 | £276–£504 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,155 | £814 | £632–£994 |
Bought-in services | £122 | £731 | £260–£1,298 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Woodlands School Large reserves
- Lansbury Bridge School Large reserves
- Newfield School Large reserves
- Green Lane Community Special School Healthy
- Kenwood Academy Large reserves
- Hope School Healthy
- Laleham Gap School Healthy
- Isebrook School Large reserves
- The Fountains High School Large reserves
- Ravenscliffe High School Large reserves
- The Bridge School Tight
- Sherbourne Fields School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £5.8m | £24,580 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.1m | £8,920 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £86k | £361 |
Money raised by parents
THE FRIENDS OF CASTLEDON SCHOOL (charity 299530, Registered) raised £30k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2026-01 | £30k | £38k |
2025-01 | £55k | £30k |
2024-01 | £74k | £122k |
2023-01 | £74k | £8k |
2022-01 | £70k | £60k |
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.
- 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?
- Spending on supply staff is £1,126 a pupil, against a typical £409 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,929 a pupil, against a typical £1,014 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,155 a pupil, against a typical £814 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for Castledon School · All Essex school finances