Ash Lea Academy: school finances
Heading for deficit
Has spent more than it received for 4 years running; at that rate its £243k reserve runs out in about 1 year.
Latest full year 2025-26, as a council-run school (CFR return, April–March). Nottinghamshire · 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 | £2.0m | £1.9m | +£97k | £174k | 81 |
2019-20 | £2.2m | £2.1m | +£115k | £289k | 88 |
2020-21 | £2.8m | £2.5m | +£319k | £608k | 99 |
2021-22 | £2.8m | £2.6m | +£179k | £786k | 99 |
2022-23 | £2.9m | £2.9m | -£49k | £737k | 100 |
2023-24 | £3.0m | £3.1m | -£117k | £620k | 98 |
2024-25 | £3.1m | £3.3m | -£200k | £420k | 99 |
2025-26 | £3.4m | £3.6m | -£177k | £243k | 104 |
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 50% of them. It spends £34,366 a pupil in total; similar schools typically spend £31,428.
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 | £10,947 | £10,042 | £8,938–£11,402 |
Support staff (e.g. TAs) | £12,433 | £11,880 | £10,156–£14,149 |
Supply staff | £0 | £352 | £150–£1,070 |
Admin and clerical | £1,276 | £1,198 | £984–£1,682 |
Premises | £1,656 | £1,730 | £1,305–£2,061 |
Energy | £226 | £463 | £331–£573 |
Learning resources & ICT | £697 | £788 | £613–£1,192 |
Bought-in services | £1,954 | £676 | £344–£1,578 |
Compare side by side with the 3 most similar schools
Which schools are these?
- Lime Academy Hartwell In deficit
- Torfield School Large reserves
- Duke of Lancaster School Healthy
- Mountjoy School Large reserves
- Stocklake Park Community School Large reserves
- Watling View School Healthy
- Kingsbury Academy In deficit
- Acorns Primary School Healthy
- Kirkham Pear Tree School Healthy
- Beckfoot Phoenix Healthy
- Limington House School Large reserves
- Hillside Specialist School and College Tight
Where the money comes from, 2025-26
| Source | Amount | Per pupil |
|---|---|---|
Government grants | £3.3m | £32,096 |
Pupil premium (part of grants) | £44k | £426 |
Self-generated (lettings, catering, donations) | £60k | £573 |
Questions to ask the school
Useful for parents, governors and PTA committees.
- What is the plan to stop spending more than the school receives each year?
- Spending on bought-in services is £1,954 a pupil, against a typical £676 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 Ash Lea Academy · All Nottinghamshire school finances