John Watson School: school finances
Large reserves
Holds £637k in reserve, 19% of a year's income.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Oxfordshire · Not applicable · Academy special 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 | £1.7m | £1.6m | +£130k | £75k | 80 |
2019-20 | £1.8m | £1.7m | +£41k | £116k | 82 |
2020-21 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£50k | £165k | 100 |
2021-22 | £2.4m | £2.3m | +£165k | £330k | 109 |
2022-23 | £2.6m | £2.2m | +£401k | £731k | 110 |
2023-24 | £2.8m | £2.9m | -£49k | £682k | 112 |
2024-25 | £3.2m | £2.9m | +£265k | £947k | 113 |
2025-26 | £3.4m | £3.7m | -£309k | £637k | 115 |
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 70% of them. It spends £32,394 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £30,361.
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 | £11,422 | £10,869 | £9,638–£12,527 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £9,763 | £10,284 | £8,907–£13,493 |
Supply staff | £0 | £288 | £57–£903 |
Admin and clerical | £1,804 | £1,227 | £793–£1,732 |
Premises | £4,003 | £1,356 | £883–£1,826 |
Energy | £226 | £366 | £265–£549 |
Learning resources & ICT | £1,400 | £884 | £694–£1,220 |
Bought-in services | £1,592 | £563 | £246–£1,844 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- The Children's Hospital School Large reserves
- The Cavendish School Large reserves
- Fairfields School Large reserves
- Lakeside School Healthy
- Purple Oaks Academy In deficit
- Kingfisher School Large reserves
- Norman Gate School Large reserves
- The Wherry School Large reserves
- Valence School Large reserves
- Ivy House School Healthy
- New Siblands School Large reserves
- Springfield School Large reserves
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.4m | £29,215 |
SEN funding (part of grants) | £1.6m | £13,913 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £49k | £429 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £56k | £490 |
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 premises is £4,003 a pupil, against a typical £1,356 for similar schools. What's behind that?
- Spending on learning resources & ict is £1,400 a pupil, against a typical £884 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 John Watson School · All Oxfordshire school finances