ISBA BURSARCAST

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast looks at how independent schools are rethinking uniform and sportswear — with Tim James from School Blazer — 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.

What You’ll Learn
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

Resources Mentioned
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

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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.

What You’ll Learn
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

Resources Mentioned
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

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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.

What You’ll Learn
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

Resources Mentioned
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)

Subscribe & Follow
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 You’ll Learn
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
Resources Mentioned
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.)

Subscribe & Follow
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 You’ll Learn
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

Resources mentioned
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.)

Subscribe & Follow
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.