Castle School: school finances
Tight
Holds £32k in reserve, under 3% of a year's income: little room for surprises.
Latest full year 2024-25, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Derby · Not applicable · Academy alternative provision converter.
Earlier years come from this school's return before it became an academy (a different DfE number).
A 2025-26 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 | £2.3m | £2.4m | -£114k | £23k | 184 |
2019-20 | £2.5m | £2.6m | -£19k | £5k | 187 |
2020-21 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£23k | £28k | 121 |
2021-22 | £2.3m | £2.3m | +£9k | £36k | 99 |
2022-23 | £2.7m | £2.4m | +£295k | £331k | 158 |
2023-24 | £1.6m | £1.8m | -£190k | £56k | 44 |
2024-25 | £1.9m | £1.9m | -£71k | £32k | 42 |
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 27% of them. It spends £45,968 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £33,587.
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 | £20,786 | £15,947 | £13,220–£21,420 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £7,080 | £6,256 | £4,006–£9,287 |
Supply staff | £1,096 | £949 | £87–£1,851 |
Admin and clerical | £3,128 | £1,714 | £1,071–£2,367 |
Premises | £3,109 | £1,184 | £818–£1,697 |
Energy | £503 | £424 | £174–£574 |
Learning resources & ICT | £2,422 | £1,429 | £945–£2,072 |
Bought-in services | £4,684 | £361 | £122–£1,477 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Caradon Alternative Provision Academy Large reserves
- Rivers Education Support Centre Large reserves
- The Pinetree School Healthy
- The Lodestar Academy Tight
- Links Academy Heading for deficit
- Newbridge School Large reserves
- Springwell Alternative Academy Grantham Large reserves
- Daylesford Academy Tight
- OA - Cambridge Large reserves
- Chaselea Alternative Provision Academy Large reserves
- River Dart Academy Large reserves
- Elmbrook School Tight
Where the money comes from, 2024-25
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £1.9m | £44,080 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.0m | £24,936 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £23k | £556 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £8k | £201 |
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?
- Pupil numbers have fallen 77% since 2018-19. How is the school planning for fewer pupils, and the funding that goes with them?
- Spending on bought-in services is £4,684 a pupil, against a typical £361 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on premises is £3,109 a pupil, against a typical £1,184 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £3,128 a pupil, against a typical £1,714 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £2,422 a pupil, against a typical £1,429 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 Castle School · All Derby school finances