The Cavendish School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £458k in reserve, 13% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Cambridgeshire · Not applicable · Free schools special.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: EASTERN LEARNING ALLIANCE 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, 2021-22 to 2024-25
Income and spending, 2021-22 to 2024-25
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.1m | +£284k | £247k | 59 |
2022-23 | £2.5m | £2.2m | +£248k | £438k | 81 |
2023-24 | £3.0m | £3.0m | -£41k | £271k | 99 |
2024-25 | £3.7m | £3.2m | +£421k | £458k | 116 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 special 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 60% of them. It spends £27,905 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £31,157.
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 | £13,009 | £10,869 | £9,652–£12,120 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,103 | £11,062 | £9,433–£14,600 |
Supply staff | £483 | £236 | £57–£796 |
Admin and clerical | £0 | £1,290 | £841–£1,754 |
Premises | £716 | £1,408 | £1,034–£1,964 |
Energy | £440 | £397 | £265–£569 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,741 | £884 | £670–£1,220 |
Bought-in services | £1,517 | £614 | £284–£1,844 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Purple Oaks Academy In deficit
- The Children's Hospital School Large reserves
- John Watson School Large reserves
- Fairfields School Large reserves
- Brooklands School Heading for deficit
- Middleton School Large reserves
- Valence School Large reserves
- Ivy House School Healthy
- Lakeside School Healthy
- Sherbrook Primary School Large reserves
- Norman Gate School Large reserves
- Pictor Academy Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.6m | £31,172 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.1m | £18,155 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £42k | £362 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF THE CAVENDISH SCHOOL (charity 1182441, Registered) raised £1k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-03 | £1k | £0 |
2024-03 | £3k | £760 |
2023-03 | £2k | £2k |
2022-03 | £18 | £30 |
2021-03 | £2k | £333 |
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 learning resources & ict is £1,741 a pupil, against a typical £884 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 Cavendish School · All Cambridgeshire school finances