ISBA BURSARCAST // When Physical Security Becomes Digital Infrastructure ft. Net-Ctrl (2nd October 2026)

How can schools make the most of a refurbishment budget while creating spaces that serve pupils and staff for years to come?This week, Leo is joined by Matt Jones and Dave Manser, Directors of Witley Jones, to explore the decisions behind successful school furniture and refurbishment projects. From flexible classrooms to welcoming boarding accommodation, they discuss how early planning, thoughtful design and a clear understanding of costs can help schools get more from their investment.Drawing on projects with independent schools, the conversation covers:Planning early: allowing time to coordinate trades, secure suppliers and make the most of school holiday windows.Looking beyond the price tag: weighing initial expenditure against durability, maintenance, guarantees and replacement costs.Understanding your quote: checking what is included in surveys, design, delivery and installation.Designing around everyday use: involving teaching staff, support teams and pupils in shaping spaces.Building in flexibility: creating classrooms and shared spaces that can adapt to changing needs.Considering sustainability: asking about materials, sourcing, testing and what happens to furniture at the end of its life.Also in this week’s newsWe open with an urgent reminder for schools in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme to check their registration for the new employer portal following the transfer from Capita to TCS. This update does not apply to Scotland.The roundup also includes:The new Bursar’s Guide to Finance, supporting financial management resources and Crowe’s anonymous VAT partial exemption benchmarking.Updates on attendance registers, parent contract documents, the Model Staff Handbook and the accompanying HCR webinar.Learning from ISI’s annual inspection review, changes to Ofsted inspection fees and HCR’s briefing on the Private Rented Sector Database.The proposed safety certification scheme for EdTech and AI, changes to Microsoft education licensing and Zeffer’s early adopter programme.Cairneagle’s pupil number analysis and a reminder about the ISBA HR Conference on Tuesday 17 November in London.Resources and follow-upISBA members can find the guidance, registration information and event details in this week’s bulletin and the Reference Library.For Witley Jones contact details and further information, see the guest link accompanying this episode.Supplier opportunities mentioned in the news are shared for information and do not constitute an ISBA endorsement.Guest organisationsWitley Jones, Bespoke School FurnitureFurther informationFull guidance, consultation details, event bookings and the screen-time survey are available through the latest ISBA Weekly Bulletin and the ISBA Reference Library.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes of ISBA Bursarcast are released every Friday at 4pm, bringing you the latest sector news, practical insights and expert conversations for independent school leaders.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast or via the ISBA website.Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact [email protected]: [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.

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 1,400 devices, we look at how a consistent, centrally managed approach can support teachers, simplify IT support and help pupils get on with learning.The conversation covers:Protection beyond the school gate: filtering and monitoring off-site, assessing alerts and clear routes for safeguarding escalation.Privacy and parent engagement: building understanding and trust around how devices are managed.The full cost of ownership: repairs, spares, logistics, IT time and eventual replacement.Shared responsibility: bringing safeguarding, IT, finance, teaching staff and governors into the same conversation.Purposeful screen use: balancing digital learning with other approaches and keeping pupil wellbeing central.In the news roundup, we cover the signing of the ISBA–AGBIS merger deed ahead of the new association’s January 2027 launch, the bulletin’s Budget planning priorities, the DfE’s Martyn’s Law explainer for settings in England, National Minimum Wage compliance and this week’s energy long read.Member remindersThe National Minimum Wage webinar with Fair Pay Hub is available until 30 November.Bookings for the 17 November HR Conference close on 11 November.ISBA’s screen-time survey remains open.The latest issue of The Bursar’s Review is available online.Members can find the full guidance, recordings and booking information in the weekly bulletin and ISBA Reference Library.Guest organisationsEasy4u — one-to-one device programmesClass Technology Solutions — school IT services and supportFurther informationFull guidance, consultation details, event bookings and the screen-time survey are available through the latest ISBA Weekly Bulletin and the ISBA Reference Library.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes of ISBA Bursarcast are released every Friday at 4pm, bringing you the latest sector news, practical insights and expert conversations for independent school leaders.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast or via the ISBA website.Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact [email protected]: [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.

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 recommendations from Sir David Bell's independent review. What do the new safeguarding, training and inspection expectations mean for schools in England?Employment law updates: The government's fire and rehire reforms have been delayed until March 2027, with a consultation on the revised Code of Practice open until 17 December.School security and inspections: Updated DfE guidance highlights the importance of effective building access controls, visitor management and site-specific risk assessments.Cybersecurity and data protection: An ICO investigation involving a 12-year-old test account and the password 'Password1' offers a stark reminder about basic cyber hygiene.Screen time in schools: How are independent schools managing pupil screen use? ISBA is inviting members to share their approaches through a short survey.Early years childcare: Ofsted has updated its guidance on registration requirements for school-based and wraparound provision.We also highlight upcoming ISBA regional meetings, the November HR Conference and the newly opened bookings for the February 2027 Finance Conference.Further informationFull guidance, consultation details, event bookings and the screen-time survey are available through the latest ISBA Weekly Bulletin and the ISBA Reference Library.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes of ISBA Bursarcast are released every Friday at 4pm, bringing you the latest sector news, practical insights and expert conversations for independent school leaders.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast or via the ISBA website.Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? Contact [email protected]: [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.

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 their radar.This week's key stories include:Cyber security – urgent PHP vulnerability: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued an alert concerning a serious PHP security vulnerability. With many independent school websites potentially affected, schools are being urged to check their systems and take appropriate action.Updated ISBA Model Parent Contract: The 2026–27 model contract introduces changes covering fees, deposits, parental behaviour and school closure. What should schools be reviewing?Employment law – third-party harassment: New duties taking effect on 30 October 2026 raise important questions about protecting school employees from harassment by parents, visitors and other third parties.Flexible working and bereavement leave: Forthcoming employment reforms could have significant implications for school staffing policies and operational planning.Inspection and compliance: ISBA clarifies the position on School Food Standards and publishing remote learning arrangements.Sector updates: Members approve resolutions connected to the proposed ISBA–AGBIS merger, while the closure of Rendcomb College presents an opportunity for schools to acquire equipment through an online auction.We also highlight the latest issue of The Bursar's Review, upcoming regional meetings and professional development opportunities.Further informationISBA members can access the full bulletin, updated guidance, model documents and supporting resources through the ISBA Reference Library.For the latest independent school news, compliance updates and practical insights for bursars and senior leaders, subscribe to the ISBA Bursarcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast platform.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, 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 the choices schools make when there is simply more to do than there is money available.Guy shares how Alleyn’s assesses competing capital projects, why educational impact is only part of the equation, and how a more structured approach can stop investment decisions being driven by whoever shouts the loudest.They also explore the hidden cost of deferred maintenance; why mechanical and engineering systems can become particularly expensive when overlooked; and how better data can reveal inefficiencies that would otherwise remain invisible.The conversation moves into the idea of the “smart school” — using information about buildings, energy use and occupancy to make better operational decisions — as well as the importance of bringing estates, IT and sustainability planning together rather than treating them as separate projects.Guy also reflects on the value of consultation, what he has learned from more than 20 years working in educational design and capital projects, and why bursars facing a long project list and a short budget should ultimately “play the long game”.In this episode:Prioritising capital projects when budgets are constrainedBalancing educational impact with cost savings and income potentialThe real cost of deferring maintenanceUsing condition surveys and building data more effectivelyWhy schools can end up paying twice when IT, sustainability and estates are planned separatelyThinking strategically about energy, networks and future infrastructureConsultation, governance and collective decision-makingWhen spending more upfront can save considerably more laterAdvice for bursars operating without large in-house teamsWhy long-term operational cost should influence today’s capital decisionsAnd, naturally, we finish with the important question of Guy’s favourite Lego project.GUEST:Guy Collins-Down, COO Alleyn's SchoolMember note:This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through ISBA and the relevant linked materials.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4 pm 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.

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:Safeguarding information sharing: A new statutory duty came into force on 30 September, with implications for school policies, procedures and data protection.Parental complaints and ISI inspections: Updated inspection guidance brings greater attention to how schools recognise and manage data protection complaints.Teachers' Pensions: An urgent employer portal registration deadline and a planned service interruption affecting pension administration.Capital Goods Scheme: Why schools may want to revisit historic capital expenditure for potential VAT recovery.Right to Work compliance: An updated Home Office code of practice and its relevance to school recruitment procedures.Financial updates: PAYE Settlement Agreement deadlines and temporary VAT relief on qualifying electricity supplies.Further informationThis episode provides a selective overview of the issues most relevant to school operational leaders. It is not a substitute for detailed regulatory, legal or financial guidance.For the full updates, supporting resources and practical guidance, members should consult ISBA Bulletin No. 31 (8 October 2026) and the ISBA Reference Library.ISBA Bursarcast — concise, relevant operational intelligence for the people leading and managing independent schools.Member note:This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through ISBA and the relevant linked materials.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4 pm 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.

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 growing “IT-ification” of physical security, as CCTV, access control, alarms and environmental monitoring become increasingly connected to a school’s wider digital infrastructure. The conversation looks at why estates and IT teams need to work more closely together, and the cyber-security questions schools should be asking as more physical systems become networked. The episode also examines where AI is genuinely beginning to make a practical difference, from natural-language searches and automated alerts to identifying patterns within footage — while considering the equally important questions around permissions, privacy and data governance.Beyond security itself, Tom explains how connected systems can also provide useful operational insight, including environmental monitoring, space utilisation and understanding movement around the school estate.In this episode:What the “IT-ification” of physical security means for schoolsWhy estates and IT teams increasingly need to work togetherThe cyber-security questions schools should ask about connected security systemsHow to think about warranty, support and total cost of ownershipWhere AI is already having a practical impact on physical securityThe privacy and governance considerations that come with smarter systemsHow security infrastructure can support wider operational decision-makingWhat schools should consider when reviewing ageing or fragmented systemsA practical discussion for bursars, COOs, estates teams, IT leaders and senior staff considering whether their school’s physical security infrastructure is keeping pace with the way technology — and the risks surrounding it — are changing.GUEST:Tom Piggott, Verkada https://www.verkada.com/uk/Find more from Net-Ctrl here:https://www.net-ctrl.com/Member note:This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through ISBA and the relevant linked materials.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4 pm 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.

In this episode of the ISBA BursarcastInformation sharing and safeguardingNew 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 checksFurther clarification from the DfE explains how the peer exemption applies when older pupils volunteer with younger children. The position differs depending on whether volunteering takes place within the same school or at another school, with potential implications for partnership and outreach activity.Teachers’ Pension SchemeSchools participating in TPS should ensure their audited End of Year Certificate is submitted by 30 September 2026. Primary contacts should also register for the new TCS Employer Portal by 9 October 2026, ahead of the transfer of scheme administration on 1 November.ISBA has also responded to questions around the recent change in the TPS contribution rate, with further member guidance available through its webinar and FAQ resources.Charity accountingThe Charity Commission has updated its accounting guidance to reflect SORP 2026 and new thresholds applying to financial years ending on or after 30 September 2026. Schools should make sure finance teams, auditors and governors are working from the revised guidance.Inspection readiness and the SCRWith new staff in post and recent changes affecting volunteers and EYFS staff, ISBA is encouraging schools to check that their Single Central Record and wider vetting processes are accurate and up to date.Wider regulatory updatesThe Department for Education has updated its guidance on material change applications for independent schools, while new resources have also been published to support implementation of Martyn’s Law.Companies House has also announced the first prosecutions linked to failures around director identity verification, making this an important governance check for schools and governing bodies.Full guidance and member resources are available through the ISBA Weekly Bulletin and Reference Library.This week also includes further updates and resources across strategic planning, UKVI compliance, estates and health and safety, regional meetings and sector events.ISBA Weekly Bulletins:https://www.isbabulletin.org.uk/Newsletter/List/weekly-bulletinAdvice and Guidance:[email protected] note:This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through the original ISBA bulletin and linked materials.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4 pm 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.

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 episodeTeachers’ Pension SchemeISBA has updated its guidance on the forthcoming reduction in the TPS employer contribution rate from April 2027, including new FAQs around hybrid arrangements, alternative defined-contribution schemes and previous decisions to leave the scheme.Cyber preparednessCyber security is firmly on the leadership agenda this week. ISBA’s latest long read focuses on the role of governors, bursars and senior leaders in building resilience, while a separate alert highlights a critical vulnerability affecting some schools using managed IT providers.Inspection readinessISI has updated its Inspection Framework, Handbook, self-evaluation material and complaints procedure for September 2026. ISBA has also refreshed its own inspection guidance to reflect the latest changes.Material changesThe Department for Education has updated its guidance on making material changes to an independent school’s registered details, including further detail around timings, capacity, age-range changes and school closures.Pupil imagesFollowing the recent ISBA, AMCIS and IAPS webinar, we look at why the use of pupil images is increasingly a safeguarding, communications and governance issue, rather than simply a marketing decision.Key deadlinesThe ISC interim pupil-number survey closes on 18 September 2026, while primary contacts for Teachers’ Pensions should register for the new employer portal by 9 October 2026.Full guidance and member resources are available through the ISBA Weekly Bulletin and Reference Library.This week also sees further webinars and events across pensions, finance, immigration, National Minimum Wage compliance, estates and health and safety.ISBA Weekly Bulletins:https://www.isbabulletin.org.uk/Newsletter/List/weekly-bulletinAdvice and Guidance:[email protected] note:This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through the original ISBA bulletin and linked materials.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4 pm 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.

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 episodeKCSIE 2026We look at the latest safeguarding changes, including the removal of the supervision exemption, sixth form volunteering and clarification around under-16 work experience in Early Years settings.Inspection and attendanceISI has updated its Inspection Framework and Handbook, while new attendance guidance creates practical considerations for schools, including registration requirements.Charities SORP 2026For many charitable schools, the current financial year will be the first covered by the new SORP. Finance teams are encouraged to begin preparing now.Teachers’ Pension SchemeTPS schools in England and Wales should ensure their primary contact registers for the new employer portal by 9 October 2026.National Minimum WageWith HMRC scrutiny of the education sector, schools should keep pay arrangements, working-time records and payroll compliance under review.Full guidance and member resources are available through the ISBA Weekly Bulletin and Reference Library.And if you missed the Bursarcast over the summer, catch up with our recent guest conversations in the podcast feed.ISBA Weekly Bulletins:https://www.isbabulletin.org.uk/Newsletter/List/weekly-bulletinAdvice and Guidance:[email protected] note:This episode is designed as a short operational briefing. Fuller guidance, technical detail and member-only resources remain available through the original ISBA bulletin and linked materials.Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4 pm 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.