Mary Elliot Academy: school finances
Tight
Holds £70k 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). Walsall · Not applicable · Academy special sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: THRIVE EDUCATION 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 | £2.9m | £2.9m | +£3k | -£88k | 110 |
2019-20 | £3.2m | £3.0m | +£227k | £140k | 124 |
2020-21 | £3.5m | £3.3m | +£131k | £271k | 123 |
2021-22 | £3.9m | £3.7m | +£220k | £491k | 130 |
2022-23 | £4.2m | £4.2m | +£17k | £508k | 135 |
2023-24 | £4.6m | £4.1m | +£473k | £441k | 140 |
2024-25 | £4.5m | £4.7m | -£184k | £70k | 142 |
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 10% of them. It spends £33,120 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £28,084.
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 | £10,451 | £9,697 | £8,775–£10,968 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £13,423 | £9,913 | £6,016–£12,936 |
Supply staff | £3,345 | £331 | £26–£953 |
Admin and clerical | £803 | £1,145 | £865–£1,483 |
Premises | £1,021 | £1,236 | £974–£1,665 |
Energy | £1,444 | £377 | £288–£604 |
Learning resources & ICT | £373 | £736 | £566–£984 |
Bought-in services | £99 | £669 | £335–£1,038 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Wood Bank School Large reserves
- Sunningdale School Large reserves
- Rivermead School Healthy
- Ashley High School Large reserves
- Portland School Tight
- Lime Academy Orton Large reserves
- Mill Ford School Large reserves
- The Woodlands Academy Large reserves
- Gosden House School Large reserves
- Cromwell High School Large reserves
- Harbour School Dorset Healthy
- Holbrook School for Autism Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £4.5m | £31,711 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £2.7m | £19,042 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £20k | £141 |
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 supply staff is £3,345 a pupil, against a typical £331 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £1,444 a pupil, against a typical £377 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 Mary Elliot Academy · All Walsall school finances