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.

• Why independent school building enquiries appear to have picked up again
• Which facilities are schools prioritising most right now
• Why wellbeing and pastoral spaces are becoming a more prominent part of the estates conversation
• What panelised construction is — and how it differs from “modular boxes”
• How to think about school building value beyond the initial capital spend
• Why are sustainability expectations rising in school estate projects
• Why planning and consultation may require longer lead times than expected
• This week’s key operational headlines from the ISBA bulletin

• ISBA Annual Conference 2026, 11–13 May 2026, ICC Wales
• ISBA webinars on SEND, data protection, Charities SORP, CDC pensions, and KCSIE
• ISBA Reference Library and multimedia recordings
• DfE Generative AI Product Safety Standards
• HMRC guidance on VAT and school photographer commission
• Home Office key principles of Prevent
• Draft guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions and allergy
• TG Escapes

New 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 STUDIO

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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 rarely worn.

In response, schools are moving towards multi-use garments — such as reversible rugby tops and puffer jackets — and taking a harder look at how lists are specified and communicated.

We also explore how uniform design is evolving, including a trend toward aligning boys’ and girls’ uniforms in appearance and cost (while still designing appropriately for each), and the growing influence of high-street fashion, including quarter-zip styles.

Sportswear — around half of School Blazers’ business — is positioned as a key lever for participation and wellbeing, especially amid concerns about sedentary, body-conscious pupils. Tim highlights kit developments, including new leggings, a new sports bra, and more choices in girls’ kit.

Operationally, Tim shares what “good” looks like from a supplier perspective: tight KPIs on stock, delivery and returns, plus a practical bursar reminder — review termination clauses early, not when you’re already under pressure. We also touch on international growth and what to expect at the ISBA Conference (11–13 May, ICC Wales).

Alongside the feature, we deliver a short newsbeat from Weekly Bulletin 8 (05 Mar 2026), including: ISBA’s new Chief Executive (from 01 May 2026), new guidance on safe and responsible streaming, VAT risks around bursary grant arrangements, the 31 Mar 2026 action deadline to begin business rates appeals for potential backdated savings, advice to refund (not transfer) unused Fees in Advance, a reminder on prohibition from teaching checks, and cautious budgeting guidance on TPS.

• How to pressure-test uniform lists for value without undermining quality
• Why multi-use items are rising — and how they can reduce friction with parents
• What’s changing in boys’/girls’ uniform alignment and sports kit choice
• Supplier KPIs bursars should ask for: stock, delivery performance, returns
• Contract basics: why termination clauses need an early review
• This week’s key operational actions from ISBA’s bulletin

• ISBA Weekly Bulletin 8 (05 Mar 2026)
• ISBA Reference Library: Safe, Responsible Streaming guidance; VAT bursary grants note; TPS briefing; trackers (member-only)
• ISBA Annual Conference: 11–13 May 2026, ICC Wales
• GOV.UK: Check a teacher’s record (prohibition from teaching)
• DfE consultation: supporting pupils with medical conditions at school
• SchoolBlazer website https://www.schoolblazer.com/

Subscribe & Follow: New 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 STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 shift from externally operated services to in-house fleets for cost, control and branding benefits — including an example of a school moving quickly to internal vehicles.

Alongside the feature, we also deliver a short newsbeat covering the week’s key operational headlines, including SEND reform consultation, VAT guidance consolidation, regional meetings, mobile phone policy expectations, inspection readiness for RAAC/cladding, and the KCSIE consultation.

This episode is designed for time-poor professionals who want clarity, context and practical next steps — especially those responsible for budgeting, compliance, estates operations and stakeholder communications.

• Why transport spend is back under the microscope — and what the “tale of two halves” means for planning and procurement
• The trend towards wider catchments and express / park-and-ride routes — and how this changes cost and service design
• The pros and trade-offs of moving from outsourced provision to an in-house fleet — including control, consistency and brand visibility
• Why mid-day trips can quietly inflate costs — and how routinely quoting each trip can drive savings
• What “active compliance management” looks like for fleets — and why updates such as DVSA roadworthiness guidance matter
• How transport tech is evolving: responsible AI for insight, operational integrations (including OpenApply) and WhatsApp notifications
• A quick scan of this week’s headlines: SEND reform (England), VAT guidance, regional meetings, mobile phones, parent contracts, RAAC/cladding inspection readiness, and KCSIE consultation
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• ISBA Weekly Bulletin 7 (26 Feb 2026) — key operational headlines
• ISBA Reference Library — consolidated VAT guidance (Bursar’s Guide to VAT + appendices), Parent Contract FAQs, asbestos/estates resources, previous bulletins and webinar recordings (member-only)
• DfE consultation: SEND reform proposals (England) (as referenced in the bulletin)
• DfE guidance: Mobile phones in schools (non-statutory)
• KCSIE consultation: Keeping Children Safe in Education — 2026 proposed revisions (England) (as referenced in the bulletin)
• DVSA roadworthiness guidance updates (as referenced in discussion)
• ISBA Conference: 11–13 May 2026, ICC Wales
• Vectare Website

ISBA Bursarcast

New 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 STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: medicines management, confidentiality, safeguarding, record-keeping, clinical space, and the line management and clinical supervision needed to keep pupils safe — especially where nurses are lone-working.

Alongside the feature, we also deliver a short newsbeat covering the week’s key operational headlines, including KCSIE consultation, measles/infectious disease resources, mobile phone policy and inspection readiness, and Charities SORP changes.

This episode is designed for time-poor professionals who want clarity, context and practical next steps — especially those responsible for risk, compliance and pupil wellbeing provision.

• Why a registered nurse’s role in school goes well beyond first aid — and what NMC registration means in practice
• The non-negotiables for safe medicines management: administration, storage, documentation, training and oversight
• How to scope your nursing provision around your school’s needs — boarding/day, SEN, mental health, allergies, sport, controlled meds
• What “good governance” looks like on the ground: confidential records, appropriate clinical space, safeguarding integration, and clinical supervision
• Common pitfalls schools make — including mis-scoping the role, under-resourcing, and placing newly qualified nurses into unsupported lone-working posts
• A quick scan of this week’s headlines: KCSIE 2026 consultation, measles readiness, mobile phones and inspection focus from 01 Apr 2026, and Charities SORP 2026 basics

• ISBA Weekly Bulletin (19 Feb 2026) — key operational headlines
• ISBA Reference Library — infectious disease resources
• KCSIE 2026 draft consultation (England)
• DfE guidance: Mobile phones in schools
• UKHSA measles guidance and reporting routes
• Charities SORP 2026 overview and implementation considerations
• SAPHNA Independent School Nursing Governance Guidance (endorsed by the RCN) (as signposted in the episode)

ISBA Bursarcast

New 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 STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 into the operational cost of smartphone policies, and the launch of ISBA’s new Bursar’s Guide to ISI Inspections.

This episode is designed for time-poor professionals who want clarity, context and practical next steps—without wading through technical notes and legislative updates.

• What the delayed implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 means for contract variations and restructuring timelines
• How the postponement of mandatory payrolling for benefits in kind from HM Revenue & Customs affects payroll planning
• What new research from the University of Birmingham suggests about the time and cost of restrictive vs permissive smartphone policies
• How to use ISBA’s new Bursar’s Guide to ISI Inspections as a practical compliance tool
• What the forthcoming statutory allergy guidance means for senior leadership accountability
• Why now is the moment to review nursery sustainability in light of funded-hours pressures
• Key February deadlines and professional development opportunities

• Employment Rights Act 2025 — revised implementation timeline
• HMRC technical note on mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind
• University of Birmingham study on smartphone policy economics (BMJ Mental Health)
• ISBA Reference Library: The Bursar’s Guide to ISI Inspections

(Full details and links are available via the ISBA Weekly Bulletin and member resources.)

ISBA Bursarcast

New 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 STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 events, including the Annual Conference.

This episode is designed for time-poor professionals who want clarity, context and practical next steps—without wading through long documents.

• What the updated Department for Education guidance on mobile phones means in practice from April 2026
• How Ofsted will factor phone policies into behaviour judgements
• What’s coming in new statutory allergy guidance—and how schools should prepare now
• The scale of fee-payment scams highlighted by IRIS Education research
• Why catering budgets for 2026–27 need to plan for sustained inflation, based on Independent Schools Catering Consultancy benchmarks
• Why participation in ISBA’s Data Navigator benchmarking with Barnett Waddingham matters
• Key February and spring-term dates bursars shouldn’t miss

• DfE: Mobile phones in schools — updated guidance
• ISBA allergy policy template and webinar (4 March)
• IRIS Education: Protect your school – a practical approach to cybersecurity
• ISCC catering budget benchmarks for 2026–27
• ISBA Data Navigator (data entry deadline: 12 February 2026)
• ISBA Annual Conference 2026 — bookings open with early-bird rates
• Regional Group meetings and Newly Appointed Bursars programme

(Full links available via the ISBA Weekly Bulletin and member resources.)

ISBA Bursarcast

New 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 STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-term value through catering provision.

Plus, we round off the episode with this week’s ISBA news and insights.

• How to benchmark supplier pricing effectively
• The impact of inventory management tech like Saffron Control
• Practical examples of sustainability in school catering
• The strategic role of menu design and community feedback
• What key questions bursars should ask about catering performance and contracts

Resources mentioned:

• Foodsight magazine: https://issuu.com/allmanhall/docs/foodsight_-_independent_education_january_2026
• Hero Recipes: https://issuu.com/allmanhall/stacks/1739dd65f7af4aab8ec6e802ae9b3484
• Independent Education brochure: https://issuu.com/allmanhall/docs/digital_independent_education_4pp_2025-26
• Royal Russell case study: https://youtu.be/ou8Cb6L6u5s?si=PxHPE8w6SDq4GDEh
• allmanhall website: https://allmanhall.co.uk/

New episodes every Friday at 4pm. Follow 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 STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“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 schools in 2026.

We cover:

• Inflation outlook for food through to 2027
• Core drivers of cost
• Strategies for better menu planning and budgeting
• The role of plant-based and seasonal ingredients
• How catering quality links to student experience and retention

Plus:

Your monthly regulatory newsbeat—from the Employment Rights Act to restrictive interventions reporting, and key dates for spring term events.

Resources mentioned:

• Foodsight magazine: https://issuu.com/allmanhall/docs/foodsight_-_independent_education_january_2026
• Hero Recipes: https://issuu.com/allmanhall/stacks/1739dd65f7af4aab8ec6e802ae9b3484
• Independent Education brochure: https://issuu.com/allmanhall/docs/digital_independent_education_4pp_2025-26
• Royal Russell case study: https://youtu.be/ou8Cb6L6u5s?si=PxHPE8w6SDq4GDEh
• allmanhall website: https://allmanhall.co.uk/

Part 2 continues next week with more on supply chain dynamics, benchmarking catering performance, and practical tips for procurement.

Email: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 feedback to track what was left uneaten, identify what worked (and what didn’t), and make targeted changes to reduce waste and improve satisfaction.

This short, practical conversation covers:

• How feedback tools helped the school understand and cut food waste
• The role of student voice in shaping more effective menus
• Operational changes made by the catering team based on the data
• Financial and sustainability benefits already being realised
• The wider educational impact on pupils’ awareness of food and waste

Whether or not your school uses digital tracking, this episode offers a clear case study in how data and dialogue can help align catering, sustainability, and budget priorities — without adding complexity.

• Digitally Website
• ISBA Reference Library (Members only)

Email: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the must-haves, common pitfalls, and strategies that boost both income and impact.

• Why fundraising matters for financial resilience—even in smaller schools
• Gift Aid explained: what’s required, how to claim, and how to communicate it
• Governance essentials for bursars: policies, records, and ethical guardrails
• How to talk to parents about tax-efficient giving, without pressure
• Legacy giving and share donations: realistic strategies for schools
• What to do first, and what to avoid

• ISBA Reference Library: Fundraising and Development section
• HMRC Guidance on Gift Aid
• Charity Commission Fundraising Guidance
• “Remember A Charity” legacy campaign – rememberacharity.org.uk

For more from Angus and Clarity

www.clarityglobal.com/independent-schools-investment-management

Email: [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

The Bursarcast is produced by RAFIKI STUDIO

www.rafikistudio.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.