The DfE publishes its spending data: interesting stuff on free schools and academies, but I need help understanding it...

Francis Gilbert's picture
 2
The government has just published its spending data on amounts over £25,000, which can be accessed here. For example, this March, it appears that £8.5 million was spent on the Academies agenda by the Department (see Table 1 below). I am not clear exactly what on because I thought Partnership for Schools was disseminating all the money to academies.

Another puzzle. There's a disclaimer in the explanation of the information which I really don't understand, which reads:

"The data for January 2011 has been revised to remove a transaction against Partnerships for Schools for £1,253,675,928. This transaction was a debit action of an accounting adjustment to the Department’s financial system to rectify the payment made earlier in the year."

What does this mean?

I intend to contact the DfE in due course about this, unless someone can explain it all clearly to me!

In some of the data, the groupings seem to change so that there are no explicitly recorded costs for academies but money is clearly being spent on them by the department.

On Free Schools, Tracy Hannigan (who blogs regularly on the site and alerted me to the publishing of the data) points out: the Rivendale expense is in the March 2011 expenses, row 1725, for £33, 392.40.
The PfS one on the Jewish Free School comes from the March publication on the PfS expenses site: March expenses, Row 369 for a value of £225,617.40

Really, it needs someone who has the time and expertise to look at this data in some depth. Any takers??

This is the data for spending on academies by the DfE this March (the amounts are accessed by moving the toggle bar at the bottom of the table)

Expense typeSupplierAmount
CURRENT GRANTSBRISTOL CITY COUNCIL128426.74
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURECAMBRIDGE EDUCATION HEAD OFFICE44260.26
CURRENT GRANTSDAME ALICE OWENS SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSPARMITERS SCHOOL25000
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCYPLACE GROUP LIMITED60552.58
CURRENT GRANTSST EDWARDS COLLEGE25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURETREASURY SOLICITOR TSOL87281.92
CURRENT GRANTSNORTON COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHOMAS KNYVETT COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSASHPERTON PRIMARY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCALLINGTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSINVICTA GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSJOHN HAMPDEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSJOHN SPENDLUFFE TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSKINGSMEAD COMMUNITY COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSMOUNT HAWKE PRIMARY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSST OLAVES & ST SAVIOURS GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSVALLEY PARK SCHOOL25000
PROFESSIONAL FEESVEREDUS C/O CAPITA RESOURCING LTD56952.38
CURRENT GRANTSWILDERN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSBACKWELL SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSPENRICE COMMUNITY COLLEGE25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURETREASURY SOLICITOR TSOL30130.8
PROFESSIONAL FEESVEREDUS C/O CAPITA RESOURCING LTD153198.26
CURRENT GRANTSBOHUNT SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSBROOKFIELD COMMUNITY SCHOOL25000
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL157.16
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL52.64
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL47.8
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL371.71
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL126.5
CURRENT GRANTSCOOMBE DEAN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSIVYBRIDGE ACADEMY TRUST25000
CURRENT GRANTSJOHN PORT SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSMAIDEN ERLEGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE KING JOHN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWESTBURY ON TRYM CE PRIMARY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSBISHOP JUSTUS CE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL44227.58
CURRENT GRANTSKING EDWARD VI GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSKNOLE ACADEMY TRUST30000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREPLACE GROUP LIMITED99752.66
CURRENT GRANTSSHIREBROOK ACADEMY30000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE JOHN WALLIS CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY30000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURECAMBRIDGE EDUCATION HEAD OFFICE34412.56
CURRENT GRANTSEXMOUTH COMMUNITY COLLEGE25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREDELOITTE147902.74
CURRENT GRANTSCLEETHORPES ACADEMY30000
CURRENT GRANTSORMISTON VICTORY ACADEMY30000
CURRENT GRANTSBISHOP CREIGHTON ACADEMY25000
CURRENT GRANTSBRADWORTHY COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCHOSEN HILL SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSKINGS NORTON GIRLS SCHOOL25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREPKF UK LIMITED131105.66
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREPKF UK LLP29317
CURRENT GRANTSQUEEN'S SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSSAMUEL WHITBREAD COMMUNITY COLLEGE25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURESDSA60000
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTH HUNSLEY SCHOOL& SIXTH FORM COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE CORSHAM SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE CRYPT SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE OLDERSHAW SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHORNDEN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSBARNHILL COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSBRIGHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCHARLES DARWIN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL371372.1
CURRENT GRANTSHABERDASHERS ASKES HATCHAM100000
CURRENT GRANTSHAVANT ACADEMY30000
CURRENT GRANTSOASIS ACADEMY LORDS HILL55309.56
CURRENT GRANTSOASIS COMMUNITY LEARNING IMMINGHAM52761.45
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREPKF UK LIMITED81834.6
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTH WOLVERHAMPTON & BILSTON ACADEMY100000
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTHWATER INFANT SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE ARTHUR TERRY SCHOOL50000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE UCL ACADEMY35429.84
CURRENT GRANTSHAMMERSMITH ACADEMY TRUST ACCOUNT69204.75
CURRENT GRANTSHARBORNE ACADEMY149984
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTHWATER JUNIOR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE DUSTON SCHOOL25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREEC HARRIS LLP63159.32
PROFESSIONAL FEESOWEN EDUCATION LTD47202.32
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURETRIBAL EDUCATION LIMITED31621.35
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREAPPLEYARDS LTD31200
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL66.08
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL31.83
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL680.27
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL459.5
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL24.22
CURRENT GRANTSE ACT29095.59
CURRENT GRANTSKEARSLEY ACADEMY29742.59
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREPKF UK LIMITED32884.62
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREPLACE GROUP LIMITED42526.42
CURRENT GRANTSRIVENDALE EDUCATION LTD33392.4
CURRENT GRANTSFREEBROUGH ACADEMY28878.3
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCYNABARRO LLP60912.6
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG14.77
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG159.87
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURESDSA25748
CURRENT GRANTSCHALFONT ST PETER CE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCHRISTLETON HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSGEORGE ABBOT SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSGOLDINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSLINSLADE MIDDLE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSNEWQUAY TRETHERRAS SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSNEWSTEAD WOOD SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSORMISTON VENTURE ACADEMY29999.22
CURRENT GRANTSQUEEN MARYS GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSREDBORNE UPPER SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSRIPLEY ST THOMAS CE HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSSIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSONS MATHEMATICAL SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSSOHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSST ANSELMS COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSST MARTINS SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE HEATH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWEARE FIRST SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWHITEHILL COMMUNITY TRUST SCHOOL25000
PROFESSIONAL FEESCAPGEMINI UK PLC5108.4
CURRENT GRANTSQUEEN ELIZABETHS GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURETHE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COUNCIL50000
CURRENT GRANTSWARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL202500
CURRENT GRANTSBOTTISHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSCOLLINGWOOD COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSHARLINGTON UPPER SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSHELES SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSMARINE ACADEMY PLYMOUTH30000
CURRENT GRANTSMERCHANTS ACADEMY WITHYWOOD25000
CURRENT GRANTSNOTLEY HIGH SCHOOL & BRAINTREE SIXTH FORM25000
CURRENT GRANTSNUNEATON ACADEMY41750
CURRENT GRANTSPARK HOUSE SCHOOL & SPORTS COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSRICKMANSWORTH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSSIR ROGER MANWOODS SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSST LUKES CE SCHOOL39750
CURRENT GRANTSSUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL62244.11
CURRENT GRANTSTHE EASTBOURNE ACADEMY26090
CURRENT GRANTSTHE MOUNTBATTEN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHE RAVENSBOURNE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHOMAS MILLS HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTOOTHILL SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTRINITY CE VA COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWYCOMBE HIGH SCHOOL25000
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREACADEMY ENTERPRISE TRUST14172
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTHWATER JUNIOR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWOODPECKER HALL PRIMARY ACADEMY40804.81
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREAPPLEYARDS LTD41473.8
CURRENT GRANTSCHEAM PARK FARM JUNIOR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSDELAMERE CE PRIMARY ACADEMY25000
CURRENT GRANTSMOOR END TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSNORTH SHORE HEALTH ACADEMY50000
CURRENT GRANTSQUEEN ELIZABETHS COMMUNITY COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSSPRINGWOOD HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTHORNABY ACADEMY50000
PROFESSIONAL FEESVEREDUS C/O CAPITA RESOURCING LTD58487
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREAPPLEYARDS LTD57562.2
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREEC HARRIS LLP102465.87
CURRENT GRANTSHANS PRICE76674.94
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT COSTSOPM63153
CURRENT GRANTSBIRMINGHAM ORMISTON ACADEMY80935.74
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREMOUCHEL MANAGEMENT CONSULTING LTD33732.31
CURRENT GRANTSPLACE GROUP LIMITED73643.07
CURRENT GRANTSAYLESBURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSCHEETHAM CE COMMUNITY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSENTERPRISE SOUTH LIVERPOOL ACADEMY30000
CURRENT GRANTSHARTWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSHURSTMERE SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSLEVERINGTON PRIMARY ACADEMY25000
CURRENT GRANTSORMISTON SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS ACADEMY27792.72
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCYPLACE GROUP LIMITED44973.14
CURRENT GRANTSSAWSTON VILLAGE COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSSHENLEY BROOK END SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSSOUTH CRAVEN SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSST MARGARETS ACADEMY25000
CURRENT GRANTSSTUDLEY HIGH SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSTOWER ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWEST PARK SCHOOL25000
CURRENT GRANTSWHITLEY ABBEY BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE COLLEGE25000
CURRENT GRANTSLONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM COUNCIL47460
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL405.92
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL1007.27
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL97.46
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL104.99
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL123.62
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL738.56
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL78.51
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL280.13
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL-121.4
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL144.83
CURRENT GRANTSEDEN PROJECT LTD137828
CURRENT GRANTSTHE LOC OF THE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES LTD102473
PROFESSIONAL FEESJP MORGAN COMMERCIAL CARDS9.99
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITUREJP MORGAN COMMERCIAL CARDS3
GENERAL OFFICE EXPENSESJP MORGAN COMMERCIAL CARDS159
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITUREJP MORGAN COMMERCIAL CARDS276.48
PRINTING STATIONERY IT & CONSUMABLESJP MORGAN COMMERCIAL CARDS436.8
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYJP MORGAN COMMERCIAL CARDS744.6
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURESPECIALIST SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES TRUST932749.2
PROFESSIONAL FEESOFSTED93117
CURRENT GRANTSWINDSOR & SLOUGH ETON31540
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITUREA4E LTD33340.8
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL507.02
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL72.78
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL1271.82
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL2156.04
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL170.67
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL1031.11
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL30.33
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL491.59
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSCARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL307.15
CURRENT GRANTSGREAT BARR SCHOOL28675
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG31.51
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG221.66
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG11.72
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG40.88
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG57.85
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG558.59
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG6.99
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG2057.67
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICITYPROLOG218.06
CURRENT GRANTSEDEN PROJECT LTD63323.31
CURRENT GRANTSTHE LOC OF THE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES LTD41057
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSEXPOTEL HOTEL RESERVATIONS LTD73.04
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSEXPOTEL HOTEL RESERVATIONS LTD98.56
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSEXPOTEL HOTEL RESERVATIONS LTD321.03
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSEXPOTEL HOTEL RESERVATIONS LTD216.86
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSEXPOTEL HOTEL RESERVATIONS LTD181.47
STAFF EXPENSES / COSTSEXPOTEL HOTEL RESERVATIONS LTD46.96
CONTRACT PROGRAMME EXPENDITURESPECIALIST SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES TRUST328744.8


 

Grand total: 8475265
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Comments

Fiona Millar's picture
Fri, 13/05/2011 - 18:52

It is very interesting to see how several private sector companies are regular beneficiaries in this list. In particular Capita Veredus, but also the Place Group. And why are there so many payments to Carlson Wagon Lit Travel, which appears to be a Canadian travel agency?


Tracy Hannigan's picture
Fri, 13/05/2011 - 19:24

There is data going back a bit but this is the first set that actually identifies an individual free school project.

It is very hard to figure out how much is likely spent on a given project - it requires knowledge of the suppliers, what they do, and probably some guesswork to know what is likely a FS expense vs another kind of expense as some suppliers do other work as well. For example, an individual entry directly to Rivendale for £33, 392.40 in March 2011 doesn't take into account other possible expenditures for the project - Rivendale uses Appleyards and there are payments directly to Appleyards which probably accounts for both fees to service the Rivendale project as well as other free school projects - and other non academy and non free school projects as well. The only way to know for sure is to FoIA each and every expense that may be related (if there are invoices or accounts after the fact) and then look at the results of that and see if it can be fitted together to come up with a number. *IF* the information would be released. I would find it hard to imagine that they would publish an expense and then say they can't tell you what it was for!

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