Kempston Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £488k in reserve, 7% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Bedford · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CHILTERN LEARNING 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 | £3.6m | £3.9m | -£245k | -£956k | 525 |
2019-20 | £4.3m | £3.7m | +£571k | -£1.3m | 526 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.5m | +£59k | £41k | 646 |
2022-23 | £5.5m | £5.6m | -£65k | -£191k | 733 |
2023-24 | £6.4m | £6.9m | -£456k | -£793k | 834 |
2024-25 | £6.9m | £6.9m | +£71k | £488k | 827 |
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 43% of them. It spends £8,310 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,661.
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 | £4,312 | £4,355 | £4,151–£4,659 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,862 | £820 | £653–£987 |
Supply staff | £59 | £134 | £73–£243 |
Admin and clerical | £0 | £368 | £279–£541 |
Premises | £509 | £405 | £334–£576 |
Energy | £293 | £148 | £119–£193 |
Learning resources & ICT | £144 | £469 | £396–£527 |
Bought-in services | £311 | £102 | £63–£173 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Lenham School Large reserves
- The Grove School Large reserves
- Dixons Kings Academy Large reserves
- The Whitehaven Academy Large reserves
- Belvidere School Large reserves
- West Hill School Large reserves
- Greenacre School Healthy
- Stocksbridge High School Healthy
- Lowton Church of England High School Large reserves
- Todmorden High School, A SHARE Academy Large reserves
- St John Fisher Catholic High School Large reserves
- Bishop Milner Catholic College Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £6.8m | £8,183 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £370k | £447 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £176k | £213 |
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 bought-in services is £311 a pupil, against a typical £102 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,862 a pupil, against a typical £820 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £293 a pupil, against a typical £148 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.
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