ISBA BURSARCAST

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 implications of Charities SORP 2026, the latest proposed changes in the KCSIE 2026 consultation, and the new legal duties now in force on recording and reporting seclusion and restraint.This episode is designed for time-poor professionals who want clarity, context and practical next steps—without wading through long guidance notes and technical updates.What You’ll Learn What the new staff accommodation guidance means for schools with employees living on site, and why housing arrangements now need active review How Charities SORP 2026 could affect reserves, lease treatment, income recognition, disclosures and covenant discussions What the proposed KCSIE 2026 changes could mean for staff reading requirements, safeguarding policy, DSL cover, mental health, serious violence and AI-related risks Why do the new seclusion and restraint recording duties now need to be live in school systems and parent communication processes What the latest DfE reminder means for schools considering material change applications for September 2026 Why asbestos management, first aid supply checks and workplace stress prevention remain live operational issues What members can expect from Wednesday at the ISBA Annual Conference, including keynote sessions from Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Susannah StreeterResources Mentioned ISBA Reference Library: Staff Accommodation Advice for Schools in England The new Charities SORP 2026 and ISBA webinar: The New Charities SORP Unpacked DfE consultation on Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 DfE guidance on restrictive interventions, including use of reasonable force, in schools Department for Education guidance on independent schools applying to make a material change HSE and DfE asbestos management resources for schools ISBA Annual Conference 2026 programme and booking information(Full details and links are available via the ISBA Weekly Bulletin and member resources.)Subscribe & Follow ISBA BursarcastNew episodes every Friday at 4pm.Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Acast to stay informed on the latest in independent school operations.Email: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you. The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIOwww.rafikistudio.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 episodeInspection readiness: Mobile phone guidanceRestrictive interventions from 1 April 2026Key implications for policy, training and oversightCompanies House cyber risk: Why schools should check company recordsRisks for governors, trustees and senior leadersVAT update: Final Bursar’s Guide to VATPTA purchases and VAT recovery watchpointsFinance systems: Low satisfaction, weak reporting and integration issuesWhy this matters for workload, control and decision-makingDfE round-up: Data protection toolkit updatesKCSIE consultationData retention linked to the Grooming Gangs InquiryGuest discussionWe speak to James about School Scout and what it says about the future of independent school marketing.They explore:how families search for and compare schoolswhy location and travel time matterwhat schools can learn from pre-inquiry behaviourwhy insight and personalisation may matter more than bigger budgetshow AI could shape admissions and parent engagementWhy it mattersA practical episode for bursars, finance leads, operations teams and senior leaders focused on compliance, inspection, cyber awareness, systems, and smarter pupil recruitment.Resources mentionedISBA Reference LibraryIncludes the final Bursar’s Guide to VAT, the updated Holiday/Summer Lets Agreement, recorded webinars, and member guidance materials.ISBA Advice and Guidance teamFor school-specific follow-up questions on the issues covered in the bulletin.Companies House guidanceIncludes the update on the WebFiling security issue and the closure of the online accounts and Company Tax Return service from 31 March 2026.DfE guidance and consultationsIncluding the updated data protection in schools toolkit, the Keeping Children Safe in Education consultation, and consultation on support for pupils with medical conditions.The CircuitNational defibrillator database for checking whether a school’s defibrillator is visible to ambulance services and marked rescue ready.UKHSA and NHS meningitis informationFor schools and families following the Kent and Medway meningococcal disease outbreak updates.VWV article and guidance referencesIncluding the copyright infringement reminder and article on restrictive interventions.ISBA Annual Conference 202611–13 May 2026, ICC Wales.More from School Scout https://schoolscout.uk/[email protected] & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4pm on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and AcastEmail: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you. The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIOwww.rafikistudio.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 episodeWhy fee arrears are becoming more difficult to manageHow post-VAT pressure is affecting parent debt and school decisionsWhy good arrears management starts with process and consistencyThe value of a structured 7 / 14 / 21-day follow-up cycleWhy schools should not wait too long before escalating or seeking specialist supportCommon dispute areas, including fees in lieu of notice and separated parentsThe risk of losing credibility by setting timelines and not following throughHow to balance fair treatment, compassion and consistencyWhy governors should keep sight of cost versus recoveryRedwood’s wider support, including credit management, Parent Check Plus, and options for historic debt portfoliosAlso in this week’s sector updatesISBA’s Spring Term Sector Update recording is now availableKey changes on restrictive interventions, mobile phone policy, employment law and TPS budgetingA preview of ISBA Annual Conference 2026Updated Scottish employment contract templatesA useful read on the updated Charity Governance CodeCurrent bursar vacancies at Stover School and St Cedd’s SchoolAdvice on verifying referencesAn inspection reminder on supply staff and the SCRThe latest update on the meningitis outbreak in KentA call for feedback on the template safeguarding policyThe extended Stickman Pupil Recruitment Risk CheckA free ACAS neurodiversity webinarUpdates to Working Together to Safeguard ChildrenThe next NABs programme and upcoming ISBA webinarsResources mentioned (Members only)ISBA Weekly Bulletin 10ISBA Reference LibraryISBA Spring Term Sector UpdateISBA Annual Conference 2026 — 11–13 May, ICC WalesISBA Safer Recruitment PackMore from Redwood Collections: https://www.redwoodcollections.com/Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4pm on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Acast.Email: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you. The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIOwww.rafikistudio.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 whole-life cost.Alongside the feature, we deliver a short newsbeat from the latest ISBA bulletin, including: bookings for ISBA Annual Conference 2026 at ICC Wales from 11–13 May, updated DfE generative AI product safety standards, current bursar recruitment opportunities, a VAT reminder on school photographer commission, this week’s inspection tip on provision of information, the upcoming data protection webinar on 20 March, fresh sector commentary on SEND reform, new medical conditions and allergy guidance expected from September 2026, the extended Pupil Recruitment Risk Check offer, updated Prevent principles, and a reminder on HMRC’s “don’t get caught out” campaign on staff expense claims.What You’ll LearnWhy independent school building enquiries appear to have picked up againWhich facilities are schools prioritising most right nowWhy wellbeing and pastoral spaces are becoming a more prominent part of the estates conversationWhat panelised construction is — and how it differs from “modular boxes”How to think about school building value beyond the initial capital spendWhy are sustainability expectations rising in school estate projectsWhy planning and consultation may require longer lead times than expectedThis week’s key operational headlines from the ISBA bulletinResources MentionedISBA Annual Conference 2026, 11–13 May 2026, ICC WalesISBA webinars on SEND, data protection, Charities SORP, CDC pensions, and KCSIEISBA Reference Library and multimedia recordingsDfE Generative AI Product Safety StandardsHMRC guidance on VAT and school photographer commissionHome Office key principles of PreventDraft guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions and allergyTG Escapes Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4pm on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Acast.Email: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you. The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIOwww.rafikistudio.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.