Aylesford School: school finances
Tight
Holds £227k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Kent · Secondary · Academy sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: CHARACTER EDUCATION 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 | £4.9m | £4.9m | +£31k | £258k | 719 |
2019-20 | £5.0m | £5.0m | +£92k | £350k | 721 |
2020-21 | £5.3m | £5.2m | +£67k | £416k | 749 |
2021-22 | £5.7m | £5.7m | -£26k | £391k | 842 |
2022-23 | £6.6m | £6.9m | -£271k | £565k | 873 |
2023-24 | £7.5m | £7.5m | -£42k | -£4k | 897 |
2024-25 | £8.1m | £7.5m | +£538k | £227k | 909 |
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 27% of them. It spends £8,264 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,782.
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 | £4,089 | £4,215 | £3,908–£4,652 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £923 | £853 | £582–£1,103 |
Supply staff | £239 | £132 | £72–£199 |
Admin and clerical | £238 | £429 | £247–£518 |
Premises | £1,761 | £397 | £329–£492 |
Energy | £239 | £141 | £73–£187 |
Learning resources & ICT | £408 | £541 | £386–£705 |
Bought-in services | £0 | £80 | £28–£161 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Pensby High School Large reserves
- Diss High School Large reserves
- King Edward VI Community College Large reserves
- Trinity Academy Bradford Tight
- Rushden Academy Large reserves
- Ercall Wood Academy Healthy
- Shevington High School Large reserves
- Long Field Spencer Academy In deficit
- Magna Academy In deficit
- Richard Rose Morton Academy Large reserves
- Oakmoor School Healthy
- Peacehaven Community School Healthy
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £7.8m | £8,592 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £96k | £106 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £240k | £264 |
Money raised by parents
FRIENDS OF AYLESFORD SCHOOL (charity 1026140, Registered) raised £25k in its latest year.
| Year ending | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
2025-08 | £25k | £28k |
2024-08 | £21k | £20k |
2023-08 | £23k | £15k |
2022-08 | £12k | £6k |
2021-08 | £7k | £14k |
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 would the school do if costs rose unexpectedly, such as energy or a pay award that isn't fully funded?
- Spending on premises is £1,761 a pupil, against a typical £397 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on supply staff is £239 a pupil, against a typical £132 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £239 a pupil, against a typical £141 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 Aylesford School · All Kent school finances