The Downs School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £843k in reserve, 8% of a year's income. It has been drawing on it for 2 years.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). West Berkshire · 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 | £6.4m | £6.5m | -£117k | £174k | 1,215 |
2019-20 | £6.8m | £6.9m | -£143k | £31k | 1,279 |
2020-21 | £7.2m | £7.1m | +£121k | £152k | 1,300 |
2021-22 | £8.1m | £7.6m | +£511k | £663k | 1,316 |
2022-23 | £8.7m | £8.2m | +£549k | £1.2m | 1,363 |
2023-24 | £9.2m | £9.0m | +£256k | £1.5m | 1,405 |
2024-25 | £9.7m | £10.3m | -£607k | £860k | 1,437 |
2025-26 | £10.8m | £10.8m | -£17k | £843k | 1,434 |
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 33% of them. It spends £7,558 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £7,455.
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 | £4,410 | £4,339 | £4,081–£4,538 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £813 | £537 | £446–£684 |
Supply staff | £32 | £39 | £23–£103 |
Admin and clerical | £646 | £492 | £394–£585 |
Premises | £350 | £379 | £321–£450 |
Energy | £118 | £122 | £113–£141 |
Learning resources & ICT | £347 | £625 | £450–£962 |
Bought-in services | £155 | £75 | £42–£96 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Maidstone Grammar School Large reserves
- Wymondham College Healthy
- Poynton High School Large reserves
- Roundwood Park School Large reserves
- Calday Grange Grammar School In deficit
- Hitchin Boys' School Heading for deficit
- Wycombe High School Large reserves
- Bishop Stopford School Large reserves
- Watford Grammar School for Girls Large reserves
- Anglo European School Healthy
- Highworth Grammar School Large reserves
- Westcliff High School for Girls Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £10.1m | £7,015 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £165k | £115 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £160k | £112 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £762k | £531 |
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 £155 a pupil, against a typical £75 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on support staff (e.g. tas) is £813 a pupil, against a typical £537 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on admin and clerical is £646 a pupil, against a typical £492 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 The Downs School · All West Berkshire school finances