Durham Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £812k in reserve, 21% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). County Durham · Secondary · Academy converter.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP 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 | £4.7m | £4.8m | -£110k | -£112k | 542 |
2019-20 | £4.3m | £4.6m | -£302k | -£414k | 443 |
2020-21 | £3.9m | £3.9m | -£90k | -£504k | 381 |
2021-22 | £3.6m | £3.8m | -£166k | -£670k | 355 |
2023-24 | £3.7m | £3.1m | +£613k | £742k | 372 |
2024-25 | £3.8m | £3.7m | +£108k | £812k | 396 |
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 90% of them. It spends £9,295 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £9,274.
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 | £4,386 | £4,634 | £4,230–£5,182 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £0 | £1,061 | £711–£1,511 |
Supply staff | £356 | £242 | £125–£443 |
Admin and clerical | £1,045 | £531 | £405–£780 |
Premises | £199 | £581 | £436–£746 |
Energy | £255 | £244 | £200–£305 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,197 | £420 | £299–£593 |
Bought-in services | £25 | £158 | £73–£302 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Dixons Croxteth Academy Large reserves
- West Grantham Church of England Secondary Academy Large reserves
- BOA Digital Technologies Academy Large reserves
- EKC Sheppey Secondary Tight
- Red House Academy Heading for deficit
- Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy Large reserves
- Callerton Academy Large reserves
- Park Lane Academy Heading for deficit
- Valley Academy Large reserves
- Shireland Biomedical Utc In deficit
- Smestow Academy Large reserves
- King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.6m | £9,205 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £108k | £273 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £144k | £364 |
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 27% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,197 a pupil, against a typical £420 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £1,045 a pupil, against a typical £531 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 Durham Academy · All County Durham school finances