Aspire: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £717k in reserve, 9% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Buckinghamshire · Not applicable · Academy alternative provision converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ASPIRE SCHOOLS 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 | £5.5m | £4.9m | +£612k | £738k | 232 |
2019-20 | £5.4m | £5.7m | -£324k | £780k | 231 |
2020-21 | £5.8m | £5.9m | -£36k | £1.1m | 186 |
2021-22 | £6.2m | £6.1m | +£158k | £1.3m | 205 |
2022-23 | £6.6m | £6.5m | +£127k | £1.4m | 72 |
2023-24 | £7.2m | £7.5m | -£288k | £1.1m | 77 |
2024-25 | £8.1m | £8.5m | -£369k | £717k | 253 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 57% of them. It spends £33,652 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £27,400.
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 | £13,245 | £13,098 | £9,164–£15,952 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £10,000 | £5,062 | £3,002–£6,721 |
Supply staff | £154 | £734 | £220–£1,310 |
Admin and clerical | £3,700 | £1,404 | £835–£1,978 |
Premises | £1,344 | £1,225 | £791–£1,490 |
Energy | £419 | £288 | £229–£453 |
Learning resources & ICT | £818 | £1,128 | £898–£2,252 |
Bought-in services | £1,988 | £841 | £176–£2,256 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Bridge Street School Tight
- ACE Schools Plymouth Healthy
- Oakfield School Large reserves
- Rise Academy Healthy
- Danesgate Community Tight
- The Altus School Large reserves
- Everton Free School & Football College Large reserves
- Highfields College In deficit
- EOTAS Swindon Tight
- River Tees Secondary Academy Large reserves
- North East Essex Co-operative Academy In deficit
- St Thomas's Centre Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £8.1m | £32,174 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.4m | £5,719 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £143k | £565 |
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 admin and clerical is £3,700 a pupil, against a typical £1,404 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £10,000 a pupil, against a typical £5,062 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 Aspire · All Buckinghamshire school finances