ISBA BURSARCAST

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...

A key question asked this week is, What does catering now signal about culture, quality and the day-to-day school experience? This week’s ISBA Bursarcast opens with the key operational and regulatory developments for the sector this week, including updated Independent School Standards Regulations on restrictive interventions, refreshed Independent Schools Standards Guidance, and sharper inspection...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast brings you a focused newsbeat on staff accommodation, charity accounting reform, safeguarding consultation changes, restrictive intervention duties and key compliance pressures—centred on what bursars and senior leaders need to know now. We cover the new staff accommodation advice ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act changes coming into force from 1 May, the operational imp...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast covers the operational issues UK independent schools need on their radar now, followed by a guest discussion on school marketing, admissions strategy and pupil recruitment . In this episode Inspection readiness:  Mobile phone guidance Restrictive interventions from 1 April 2026 Key implications for policy, training and oversight Companies House cyber risk:  Wh...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast looks at rising fee arrears in independent schools — and what bursars and finance teams can do to respond earlier, more consistently, and with greater confidence. We speak to Richard Monan from Redwood Collections about what schools are seeing on the ground, including debts that are becoming older, larger and harder to recover . In this episode Why fee arrears are becom...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast asks a practical question for bursars and estates leaders: if schools are building again, what are they building for — and what actually counts as value now? Karl Stokes from TG Escapes joins us to talk about renewed enquiry levels, the rise of early years, sports and wellbeing spaces, and why schools are taking a more considered approach to sustainability, design and w...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast looks at how independent schools are rethinking uniform and sportswear — with Tim James from Schoolblazer — as budgets tighten and parents become more value-conscious. Tim describes a challenging year, driven by  VAT changes and a sharper focus on pricing . His headline: parents will still pay for quality, but they increasingly resent paying for items that are rare...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast looks at the changing shape of school transport in the independent sector — with Dominic Kalantary from Vectare — ahead of the ISBA Conference (11–13 May at ICC Wales) , where Vectare is one of the headline sponsors. We explore key market trends, including widening catchments , express and park-and-ride style routes designed to compete with car travel, and a notable shi...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast is led by a practical deep-dive on what a high-quality, safe and effective nursing service looks like in independent schools — with Jane Graham , an experienced paediatric nurse and independent school medical lead. Jane explains why registered nurses are not simply “highly qualified first aiders”, and what robust school nursing governance looks like day-to-day: medicine...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast brings you a focused newsbeat on employment law timelines, payroll changes, smartphone policy research, inspection readiness and key sector deadlines—centred on what bursars and senior leaders need to know now. We cover the delay to ‘fire and rehire’ reform under the Employment Rights Act 2025, the postponement of mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind, new research i...

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast brings you a rapid newsbeat on the latest operational and regulatory developments affecting independent schools—focused on what bursars and senior leaders need to know now . We cover tightened expectations on mobile phone policies, forthcoming statutory allergy guidance, continued cyber-fraud risks, budget planning pressures for catering, and key ISBA deadlines and even...

In this second part of our deep-dive with Jo Hall and Hayden Hibbert from allmanhall , we unpack how a detailed partnership with Royal Russell School led to measurable cost savings and operational improvements in their in-house catering. This episode goes beyond theory—focusing on what bursars, finance leads, and catering managers can actually do to manage budgets, improve quality, and build long-...

“It’s less likely that this year will be a return to normal and more a year for managing persistent and underlying inflation using insights and an understanding of the food and commodity markets to plan both budgets and menus.” In part one of this two-part conversation, Jo Hall and Hayden Hibbert from allmanhall join us to explore food procurement trends and inflation pressures facing independent...

What happens when pupils are given a voice in the dining hall — and their feedback drives real change? In this episode, we speak with Patrick McDermott from DigiTally, Michelle Howard, Sustainability and Energy Officer at Woodhouse Grove School, and Kevin Grant, the school’s Head Chef. Together, they explore how Woodhouse Grove took part in DigiTally’s Food Waste Challenge, using real-time pupil f...

In this episode, we are joined by two guests:  Sue Roxby , ISBA Head of Advice & Guidance, to provide an overview of the sector and how the ISBA will support its members. Then, Angus Jones , CEO of Clarity, shares practical steps any independent school can take to start or strengthen a charitable giving programme. From setting up Gift Aid correctly to introducing legacy giving, we cover t...