Brunel School: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £97k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a academy (accounts return, September–August). Torbay · Not applicable · Academy special sponsor led.
Academies in a trust don't hold money on their own: SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP 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 | £1.5m | £1.4m | +£128k | £311k | 51 |
2019-20 | £1.5m | £1.3m | +£180k | £395k | 47 |
2020-21 | £1.7m | £1.5m | +£122k | £324k | 50 |
2021-22 | £1.4m | £1.5m | -£111k | £167k | 47 |
2022-23 | £1.6m | £1.6m | -£49k | -£10k | 55 |
2023-24 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£49k | £60k | 54 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £2.0m | -£178k | £97k | 48 |
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 63% of them. It spends £42,333 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £36,475.
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 | £15,562 | £14,838 | £13,671–£17,646 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £4,167 | £7,382 | £4,623–£11,369 |
Supply staff | £5,979 | £1,617 | £388–£3,370 |
Admin and clerical | £4,604 | £1,547 | £1,134–£2,646 |
Premises | £2,250 | £2,067 | £1,418–£2,853 |
Energy | £1,188 | £551 | £411–£754 |
Learning resources & ICT | £3,250 | £1,483 | £794–£2,994 |
Bought-in services | £625 | £1,617 | £371–£2,676 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Phoenix Academy Tight
- Chiltern Way Academy Basingstoke Healthy
- Holly House Special School Large reserves
- Vermont School In deficit
- Rosewood School Healthy
- River Tees Academy Grangetown Large reserves
- Falconer School In deficit
- The Maple School In deficit
- Green Gates Academy Large reserves
- The Raise Academy Tight
- Wolverdene Special School Large reserves
- Norman Cornish Academy In deficit
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £38,604 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.1m | £23,312 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £1k | £21 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on supply staff is £5,979 a pupil, against a typical £1,617 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £4,604 a pupil, against a typical £1,547 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £1,188 a pupil, against a typical £551 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 Brunel School · All Torbay school finances