The Orchards School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £238k in reserve, 11% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Worcestershire · Primary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE BLACK PEAR TRUST can move money between its schools. The reserve includes this school's per-pupil share of the trust's central reserve.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
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 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£87k | -£19k | 304 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.9m | -£172k | -£191k | 276 |
2020-21 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£16k | -£175k | 258 |
2021-22 | £1.8m | £1.6m | +£152k | £43k | 261 |
2022-23 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£187k | £59k | 256 |
2023-24 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£129k | £30k | 257 |
2024-25 | £2.1m | £1.9m | +£252k | £238k | 233 |
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 70% of them. It spends £7,957 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,131.
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 | £3,034 | £3,178 | £2,946–£3,419 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,700 | £1,621 | £1,383–£1,928 |
Supply staff | £9 | £130 | £67–£261 |
Admin and clerical | £185 | £311 | £255–£381 |
Premises | £2,326 | £378 | £316–£453 |
Energy | £0 | £105 | £81–£128 |
Learning resources & ICT | £240 | £294 | £225–£399 |
Bought-in services | £43 | £212 | £117–£306 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Palmers Cross Primary School Healthy
- Wakefield St Marys Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Large reserves
- South Molton Community Primary School Healthy
- Lumbertubs Primary School Large reserves
- Redbrook Hayes Community Primary School Healthy
- Pixmore Junior School Tight
- Grace Mary Primary School Healthy
- Broadgreen Primary Large reserves
- Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Tight
- Cleves Cross Primary and Nursery School Academy Large reserves
- Looe Primary Academy Large reserves
- Victoria Park Junior School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.1m | £8,944 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £81k | £348 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £22k | £94 |
Money raised by parents
The Orchards PTFA (charity 1177279, Registered) raised £21k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £21k | £28k |
2024-08 | £21k | £17k |
2023-08 | £13k | £7k |
2022-08 | £6k | £2k |
2021-08 | £2k | £6k |
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?
- 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 £2,326 a pupil, against a typical £378 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.
Admissions, Ofsted and results for The Orchards School · All Worcestershire school finances