Ark Acton Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £588k in reserve, 6% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Ealing · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ARK 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 | £9.6m | £9.9m | -£228k | £140k | 1,044 |
2019-20 | £8.4m | £7.0m | +£1.4m | -£66k | 1,013 |
2020-21 | £8.9m | £8.5m | +£447k | £11k | 995 |
2021-22 | £8.4m | £7.4m | +£996k | £521k | 937 |
2022-23 | £8.7m | £8.7m | +£13k | £533k | 860 |
2023-24 | £8.8m | £8.6m | +£176k | £361k | 854 |
2024-25 | £9.3m | £9.1m | +£181k | £588k | 808 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 secondary schools in London closest in size and in the share of pupils on free school meals. Its reserve, as a share of income, is higher than 33% of them. It spends £11,240 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £10,541.
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 | £4,907 | £6,166 | £5,241–£6,586 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,129 | £835 | £656–£1,024 |
Supply staff | £231 | £146 | £47–£355 |
Admin and clerical | £597 | £709 | £550–£882 |
Premises | £2,121 | £594 | £461–£718 |
Energy | £115 | £217 | £145–£268 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,035 | £597 | £472–£819 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £267 | £80–£445 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Lea Valley Academy Large reserves
- London Design and Engineering UTC Healthy
- The Elms Academy Large reserves
- Harris Academy Bermondsey Large reserves
- Shirley High School Performing Arts College Large reserves
- The Archbishop Lanfranc Academy Large reserves
- William Ellis School Heading for deficit
- Ark Soane Academy Healthy
- Ark Blake Academy In deficit
- Saint John Bosco College Large reserves
- Highbury Fields School Tight
- City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £9.3m | £11,517 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £125k | £155 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | -£43k | £-53 |
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 23% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on premises is £2,121 a pupil, against a typical £594 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,035 a pupil, against a typical £597 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £1,129 a pupil, against a typical £835 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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