Old Buckenham High School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £248k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Norfolk · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SAPIENTIA 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 | £3.2m | £3.1m | +£82k | £82k | 549 |
2019-20 | £3.1m | £3.1m | +£56k | £0 | 551 |
2020-21 | £3.4m | £3.2m | +£231k | £0 | 529 |
2021-22 | £3.4m | £3.2m | +£220k | £0 | 500 |
2022-23 | £3.5m | £3.3m | +£217k | £0 | 504 |
2023-24 | £3.7m | £3.8m | -£109k | £0 | 492 |
2024-25 | £3.9m | £3.6m | +£260k | £248k | 498 |
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 50% of them. It spends £7,269 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,108.
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 | £4,157 | £4,395 | £4,154–£4,766 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £701 | £823 | £693–£1,098 |
Supply staff | £295 | £112 | £34–£204 |
Admin and clerical | £315 | £502 | £348–£690 |
Premises | £406 | £460 | £388–£533 |
Energy | £163 | £161 | £104–£248 |
Learning resources & ICT | £249 | £546 | £415–£661 |
Bought-in services | £84 | £105 | £64–£239 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- WMG Academy for Young Engineers Large reserves
- University Technical College Leeds Healthy
- The Academy, Selsey Large reserves
- Elstree Screen Arts Academy Large reserves
- Avon Valley Academy Large reserves
- Hope Valley College Large reserves
- The Ongar Academy Large reserves
- Earl Mortimer College Large reserves
- Madani Boys School In deficit
- The Axholme Academy Large reserves
- Walney Academy In deficit
- Looe Community Academy In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.7m | £7,408 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £46k | £92 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £191k | £384 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on supply staff is £295 a pupil, against a typical £112 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 Old Buckenham High School · All Norfolk school finances