Harpenden Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £202k in reserve, 14% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Hertfordshire · Primary · Free schools.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SCHOLARS' 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
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £1.0m | £1.1m | -£39k | -£147k | 205 |
2019-20 | £1.1m | £1.2m | -£55k | -£211k | 239 |
2020-21 | £1.3m | £1.1m | +£132k | -£129k | 233 |
2021-22 | £1.3m | £1.1m | +£167k | £167k | 242 |
2022-23 | £1.4m | £1.2m | +£138k | £95k | 213 |
2023-24 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£63k | £40k | 213 |
2024-25 | £1.5m | £1.3m | +£169k | £202k | 215 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 primary 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 90% of them. It spends £6,037 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £6,336.
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 | £2,833 | £3,137 | £2,937–£3,286 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,344 | £1,119 | £1,002–£1,307 |
Supply staff | £93 | £86 | £35–£188 |
Admin and clerical | £247 | £321 | £253–£369 |
Premises | £419 | £351 | £231–£425 |
Energy | £130 | £93 | £75–£104 |
Learning resources & ICT | £335 | £345 | £262–£435 |
Bought-in services | £23 | £158 | £93–£268 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Spinfield School Tight
- Scantabout Primary School Tight
- St Anthony of Padua Catholic Primary School Healthy
- Our Lady of Hartley Catholic Primary School, Hartley, Longfield Large reserves
- Tudor Grange Primary Academy Hockley Heath Healthy
- Gilmorton Chandler Church of England Primary School Large reserves
- Oldfield Primary School Heading for deficit
- Clayton-le-Woods Church of England Primary School In deficit
- Speldhurst Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Heading for deficit
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby In deficit
- Felbridge Primary School Large reserves
- Egerton Community Primary School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.3m | £6,140 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £58k | £270 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £146k | £679 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF HARPENDEN ACADEMY (charity 1159562, Registered) raised £28k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-09 | £28k | £24k |
2024-09 | £22k | £45k |
2023-09 | £25k | £22k |
2022-09 | £52k | £26k |
2021-09 | £15k | £14k |
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 are the reserves set aside for, and when will they be spent on current pupils?
- Spending on energy is £130 a pupil, against a typical £93 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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