Wells Park School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £963k in reserve, 43% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Essex · Not applicable · Academy special converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THE BECKMEAD 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 | £2.4m | £2.4m | +£10k | £290k | 53 |
2019-20 | £2.4m | £2.5m | -£93k | £197k | 51 |
2020-21 | £2.6m | £2.6m | +£50k | £247k | 52 |
2021-22 | £2.8m | £2.6m | +£190k | £437k | 56 |
2024-25 | £2.3m | £2.7m | -£453k | £963k | 59 |
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 100% of them. It spends £45,831 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £38,608.
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 | £8,695 | £14,531 | £10,739–£18,152 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £16,576 | £11,101 | £7,267–£13,004 |
Supply staff | £390 | £1,192 | £302–£2,788 |
Admin and clerical | £1,949 | £1,566 | £1,000–£1,939 |
Premises | £3,559 | £1,754 | £1,339–£2,527 |
Energy | £1,559 | £655 | £398–£859 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,356 | £1,658 | £834–£2,345 |
Bought-in services | £1,153 | £671 | £312–£2,275 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Warwickshire Academy In deficit
- Sir Peter Hall School Heading for deficit
- Redgate Primary Academy Tight
- The Flagship School In deficit
- Bramley Grange Academy Large reserves
- Brook Academy Tight
- Penny Field School Healthy
- Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children In deficit
- Hill View School Tight
- Sir Bobby Robson School Tight
- Brandles School Large reserves
- Park View School In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £2.0m | £34,593 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.3m | £21,525 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £210k | £3,559 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF WELLS PARK SCHOOL (charity 1181603, Registered) raised £0 in its latest year.
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 £1,559 a pupil, against a typical £655 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £3,559 a pupil, against a typical £1,754 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £16,576 a pupil, against a typical £11,101 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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