Schools in Reach

The Bicester School: school finances

Large reserves

Holds £1.4m in reserve, 16% of a year's income.

Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Oxfordshire · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.

Reserve at year end
£1.4m16% of a year's income
Last year's balance
+£597kincome minus spending
Income per pupil
£7,565
Pupils
1,198+19% since 2018-19

Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ACTIVATE LEARNING EDUCATION 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

-£500k£0£500k£1.0m2018-19: -£84k reserve2018-192019-20: £419k reserve2019-202020-21: £684k reserve2020-212021-22: £541k reserve2021-222022-23: £542k reserve2022-232023-24: £499k reserve2023-242024-25: £1.4m reserve2024-25

Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25

Income Spending

£0£2.0m£4.0m£6.0m£8.0mIncomeSpending2018-19: income £5.1m, spending £1.9m2018-192019-20: income £5.7m, spending £2.2m2019-202020-21: income £6.3m, spending £5.7m2020-212021-22: income £7.8m, spending £7.3m2021-222022-23: income £8.5m, spending £7.7m2022-232023-24: income £8.8m, spending £8.5m2023-242024-25: income £9.1m, spending £8.5m2024-25
Show the figures as a table
YearIncomeSpendingBalanceReservePupils
2018-19
£5.1m
£1.9m
+£3.2m
-£84k
1,007
2019-20
£5.7m
£2.2m
+£3.5m
£419k
1,113
2020-21
£6.3m
£5.7m
+£603k
£684k
1,177
2021-22
£7.8m
£7.3m
+£480k
£541k
1,295
2022-23
£8.5m
£7.7m
+£791k
£542k
1,283
2023-24
£8.8m
£8.5m
+£321k
£499k
1,239
2024-25
£9.1m
£8.5m
+£597k
£1.4m
1,198

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 83% of them. It spends £7,067 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,241.

This school Middle half of similar schools Similar schools’ median

Teachers: this school £4,333 per pupil; similar schools £4,284 (middle half £4,053–£4,487)Teachers£4,333Support staff (e.g. TAs): this school £765 per pupil; similar schools £645 (middle half £538–£842)Support staff (e.g. TAs)£765Supply staff: this school £13 per pupil; similar schools £87 (middle half £42–£134)Supply staff£13Admin and clerical: this school £298 per pupil; similar schools £445 (middle half £297–£548)Admin and clerical£298Premises: this school £464 per pupil; similar schools £403 (middle half £314–£465)Premises£464Energy: this school £140 per pupil; similar schools £134 (middle half £113–£163)Energy£140Learning resources & ICT: this school £267 per pupil; similar schools £478 (middle half £411–£619)Learning resources & ICT£267Bought-in services: this school £17 per pupil; similar schools £77 (middle half £53–£176)Bought-in services£17
Show the comparison as a table
Spending per pupilThis schoolSimilar schools (median)Middle half
Teachers
£4,333
£4,284
£4,053–£4,487
Support staff (e.g. TAs)
£765
£645
£538–£842
Supply staff
£13
£87
£42–£134
Admin and clerical
£298
£445
£297–£548
Premises
£464
£403
£314–£465
Energy
£140
£134
£113–£163
Learning resources & ICT
£267
£478
£411–£619
Bought-in services
£17
£77
£53–£176

Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools

Which schools are these?

Where the money comes from, 2024-25

SourceAmountPer pupil
Government grants
£8.8m
£7,378
SEN funding (part of grants)
£66k
£55
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations)
£224k
£187

Questions to ask the school

Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.

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 Bicester School · All Oxfordshire school finances