Robert Blake Academy: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £996k in reserve, 11% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Somerset · Secondary · Academy converter.
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 2025-26
Income and spending, 2018-19 to 2025-26
Income Spending
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Income | Spending | Balance | Reserve | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-19 | £4.8m | £4.9m | -£92k | £252k | 800 |
2019-20 | £5.1m | £5.1m | +£15k | £267k | 850 |
2020-21 | £5.6m | £5.4m | +£233k | £500k | 891 |
2021-22 | £6.3m | £6.0m | +£331k | £831k | 941 |
2022-23 | £6.9m | £7.0m | -£157k | £674k | 973 |
2023-24 | £8.0m | £8.0m | -£42k | £632k | 1,047 |
2024-25 | £8.7m | £8.9m | -£190k | £442k | 1,042 |
2025-26 | £9.2m | £8.6m | +£555k | £996k | 1,016 |
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 80% of them. It spends £8,481 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £8,025.
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 | £4,274 | £4,424 | £4,029–£4,687 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £1,000 | £1,000 | £815–£1,133 |
Supply staff | £174 | £165 | £71–£229 |
Admin and clerical | £611 | £382 | £286–£509 |
Premises | £10 | £398 | £340–£684 |
Energy | £228 | £194 | £133–£212 |
Learning resources & ICT | £357 | £530 | £401–£636 |
Bought-in services | £874 | £94 | £46–£181 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Swinton Academy In deficit
- Future Academies Watford Large reserves
- De Aston School Large reserves
- Marsden Heights Community College Large reserves
- Wingfield Academy Large reserves
- Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy In deficit
- Ashington Academy Large reserves
- Lift Winton Large reserves
- Hans Price Academy Large reserves
- Handsworth Grange Community Sports College Healthy
- Spen Valley High School In deficit
- Lealands High School Heading for deficit
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £9.1m | £8,934 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £155k | £152 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £395k | £389 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £94k | £93 |
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?
- Could any of the surplus be clawed back under the council's scheme for financing schools?
- Spending on bought-in services is £874 a pupil, against a typical £94 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £611 a pupil, against a typical £382 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 Robert Blake Academy · All Somerset school finances