OA Tunbridge Wells: school finances
Healthy
Holds £148k in reserve, 8% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Kent · Not applicable · Academy alternative provision sponsor led.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
A 2024-25 return is published too, but it covers part of a year or leaves out the income or reserve figure, so the latest complete year is shown.
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 | £1.5m | -£55k | £226k | 34 |
2019-20 | £1.7m | £1.5m | +£162k | £388k | 30 |
2020-21 | £1.5m | £1.5m | +£6k | £393k | 32 |
2021-22 | £1.6m | £1.8m | -£150k | £243k | 41 |
2022-23 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£128k | £372k | 38 |
2023-24 | £1.9m | £1.8m | +£50k | £422k | 45 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £2.2m | -£274k | £148k | 31 |
Compared with similar schools
Similar schools are the 30 alternative-provision 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 20% of them. It spends £71,228 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £33,274.
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 | £21,252 | £19,258 | £14,219–£25,988 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £20,570 | £4,050 | £2,550–£7,534 |
Supply staff | £1,698 | £144 | £0–£1,774 |
Admin and clerical | £3,551 | £1,914 | £975–£3,227 |
Premises | £1,647 | £783 | £77–£1,585 |
Energy | £1,064 | £254 | £0–£472 |
Learning resources & ICT | £5,349 | £1,256 | £860–£1,926 |
Bought-in services | £11,056 | £667 | £253–£1,098 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Southampton Hospital School Large reserves
- Consilium Evolve Tight
- Merit Hospital School and Medical Pupil Referral Unit In deficit
- Great Park School Large reserves
- The Hope Service Tight
- King's Leadership Phoenix Academy Tight
- Birchwood Large reserves
- St Christopher's Academy Large reserves
- The St Aubyn Centre Education Department Large reserves
- Triple Crown Centre Large reserves
- Horizon School Large reserves
- Acorn Free School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.7m | £56,037 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £500k | £16,125 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £2k | £63 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £266k | £8,577 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- Pupil numbers have fallen 9% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £11,056 a pupil, against a typical £667 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £20,570 a pupil, against a typical £4,050 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £5,349 a pupil, against a typical £1,256 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on energy is £1,064 a pupil, against a typical £254 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,551 a pupil, against a typical £1,914 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 OA Tunbridge Wells · All Kent school finances