ISBA BURSARCAST

When a school device goes home, does its protection go with it? This week, Leo is joined by Leyla from Class Technology Solutions and Richard from Easy4u to explore what a successful one-to-one device programme needs — from safeguarding beyond the school network to reliable repairs and a clear understanding of lifetime costs. Drawing on the discussion of George Watson’s College’s rollout of around...

In this week's ISBA Bursarcast, we look at the latest regulatory, safeguarding and operational developments affecting independent schools, including new expectations following the government's review into antisemitism, changes to employment law and important reminders about school security. This week's key stories include: Antisemitism in schools: The government accepts all 27 recommen...

An urgent cyber security warning, changes to school parent contracts, and new employment law obligations are among the key developments affecting independent schools this week. In this episode of the ISBA Bursarcast , we bring you a concise roundup of the latest operational, regulatory and sector news, highlighting the developments that bursars, heads and senior leadership teams need to have on th...

This week, we’re doing things a little differently. Rather than our usual weekly news updates, this special episode of Bursarcast is devoted to one of the biggest operational challenges facing schools: how to make good capital decisions when budgets are under increasing pressure. Leo is joined by Guy Collins-Down, COO of Alleyn’s School, for a practical conversation about estates, investment and t...

In this edition of ISBA Bursarcast , we highlight the key regulatory, financial and operational developments affecting UK independent schools, drawn from ISBA Bulletin No. 31 – 8 October 2026 . This week's briefing focuses on new safeguarding obligations, inspection expectations, employment compliance and important deadlines for bursars, heads and school leadership teams. In this episode: Safe...

Physical security is no longer simply an estates issue. For schools, it increasingly sits at the intersection of IT, safeguarding, cyber security, operational resilience and governance . In this episode of the ISBA Bursarcast , Leo is joined again by Tom Piggott from Verkada / Net-Ctrl to explore how physical security is changing — and what that means for independent schools. They discuss the grow...

In this episode of the ISBA Bursarcast Information sharing and safeguarding New statutory guidance on information sharing comes into force on 30 September 2026 , supporting a new duty under the Children Act 2004. Schools will need to consider the implications for safeguarding practice, information-sharing procedures and data protection. Pupil volunteering and DBS checks Further clarification from...

The ISBA Bursarcast is back with another weekly update for the autumn term. There’s no guest this week. Instead, we focus on the key operational developments from the latest ISBA Weekly Bulletin. In this episode Teachers’ Pension Scheme ISBA has updated its guidance on the forthcoming reduction in the TPS employer contribution rate from April 2027, including new FAQs around hybrid arrangements, al...

The ISBA Bursarcast is back with a new weekly update for the autumn term. There’s no guest this week. Instead, we focus on the key operational developments from ISBA’s first weekly bulletin after the summer break. In this episode KCSIE 2026 We look at the latest safeguarding changes, including the removal of the supervision exemption, sixth form volunteering and clarification around under-16 work...

As the new academic year approaches, this episode of The ISBA Bursarcast focuses on the operational issues independent school leaders need on their radar now. We begin with the key developments including September compliance changes, updated attendance guidance, the final deadline for the ISBA Inspection Toolkit, and the responsibilities schools may face following a significant cyber incident. We...

Concussion is no longer simply a sports-field issue. For schools, it increasingly sits at the intersection of pupil wellbeing, safeguarding, communication and governance . In this episode of the ISBA Bursarcast , Leo is joined by Professor Bill Ribbans from Luca Health and Mercedes Mills, Lead Physiotherapist at Bryanston School , to explore how thinking around concussion is changing — and what th...

Independent schools are under growing pressure to strengthen compliance, improve financial control and operate more efficiently. This episode of ISBA Bursarcast covers the latest operational developments for independent schools, including safeguarding updates, AI governance, attendance guidance, inspection changes and VAT considerations. Leo then speaks with Neil Cufley of Royal Russell School and...

In this special guest episode, we are joined by Laura Mitchelson from Veritas Wild to discuss teacher retention in international schools — and why the retention story often begins long before a teacher reaches the end of their first contract. Together, we explore the transition into a new school, a new country and, often, a new culture. The conversation looks at how early communication, practical...

In this episode of The Bursarcast, we are joined by Julie Robinson, Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Council, and Dr Aidan Tolland, Head of Research and Data at the ISC, to discuss this year’s ISC Census. The conversation looks beyond headline pupil numbers to explore what the data tell us about the independent school sector, including trends in demand, bursaries and fee assistance, boar...

In this week’s ISBA Bursarcast, we round up the key operational and regulatory issues for independent school leaders as the summer break approaches. The news cycle covers updated ISBA guidance on taking, storing and using images of children, including the growing risks around online image use, livestreaming, smart technology and consent. We also look at the Department for Education’s allergy safet...

This week’s ISBA Newsbeat looks at the operational issues school leaders need on their radar before the new academic year, including TPS changes, statutory mobile phone guidance, VAT year-end considerations, inspection readiness, building safety and changes to regulated activity for volunteers. In this episode: We cover the confirmed reduction in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution...

This week’s Bursarcast takes a fuller look at the operational issues independent school leaders need on their radar as term draws to a close. We cover the ISC Census 2026, including the fall in pupil numbers and why the data matters for admissions, financial planning, staffing assumptions and how schools evidence public benefit. We also look at hot weather and heatwave management, including risk a...

This episode covers updates to ISBA’s template Allergy Policy, changes to the Model Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, and the forthcoming change to regulated activity rules for volunteers from September 2026. We also consider why the government’s consultation on zero and low hours contracts matters for schools using flexible staffing arrangements, from invigilators and coaches to peripatet...

This week’s Bursarcast focuses on the technology, compliance, safeguarding, staffing and financial developments most likely to affect independent school operations. ISBA Technology Survey 2026 and measuring return on digital investment DfE call for evidence on children’s screen use Future scrutiny of EdTech, generative AI, filtering and monitoring Inspection readiness and recurring compliance them...

This week’s Bursarcast focuses on safeguarding, security, complaints, estates compliance and end-of-year operational readiness for independent schools. We cover the DfE consultation on the new information-sharing duty under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, including the potential implications for safeguarding practice, policy, training, local partnership working, record-keeping and profes...

This week’s Bursarcast focuses on the compliance, safeguarding, staffing and financial governance developments most likely to affect independent school operations. We cover the EHRC’s draft updated Code of Practice, now presented to Parliament, and the connected safeguarding and equality implications for schools as they monitor proposed KCSIE updates on pupils questioning their gender. We also fla...

This week’s Bursarcast focuses on the compliance, safeguarding and financial planning developments most likely to affect independent school operations. We cover the new data protection complaints duty under the Data Use and Access Act, fresh guidance on protecting images of children from AI manipulation and abuse, and the latest pensions watchpoint following confirmation of the SCAPE discount rate...

This week’s Bursarcas t focuses on the developments most likely to affect school operations, governance and risk planning. We cover the proposed ISBA and AGBIS merger , ISC’s governance changes, early preparation for Charities SORP 2026, and continuing inspection risk around attendance and compliance evidence. We also flag live ISI consultations, VAT treatment of sponsorship, Canvas/Instructure cy...

In this episode of ISBA Bursarcast , we begin with the latest operational updates for independent school leaders, including new holiday record-keeping duties under the Employment Rights Act 2025, future employment reforms expected in 2027, HMRC payroll changes, inspection readiness reminders and recent updates from the DfE and Charity Commission. We then turn to the wider risk environment facing i...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast asks a timely operational question for schools: how secure is the journey between a parent receiving a fee request and the school actually receiving the money? Peter Othen , Director of IT at Magdalen College School, and Simon Freeman , Managing Director of Education at iSAMS , join us to discuss the risks around f ee collection, parent payment scams and the wider cyber...