ISBA BURSARCAST // Risk, Resilience & Reform: What Schools Need to Know in 2025 ft. Assured Partners (16th May, 2025)

In this packed episode of The Bursarcast, we bring you the latest policy and legal updates every independent school bursar should be across, including new developments in employment law, protections for zero-hours workers, and a landmark report redefining the role of the bursar itself.

We also highlight a must-read feature on staffing cost-saving strategies from Farrer & Co — a practical guide for schools navigating tough financial terrain.

🧠 Guest Segment: Understanding Risk in 2025
We’re joined by Ian Morgan and Dom Haigh from Assured Partners, headline sponsors of this year’s ISBA Conference, to unpack the risk landscape facing independent schools in 2025. From cyber threats and AI to rising costs and VAT, Ian and Dom share what bursars need to know — and what they can do next.

🎯 Key Talking Points:
• Managing rising costs and financial exposures
• Cyber security: growing risks, smarter defences
• Crisis planning and the growing role of AI
• Why property valuations shouldn’t be a “once and done” exercise
• Multi-insurer solutions: a stronger, smarter approach to risk

Whether you're fine-tuning your budgets, reviewing contracts, or planning long-term resilience, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you stay ahead.

Find more from Assured Partners 

Contact the podcast at podcast@theisba.org.uk
Tune in to the ISBA Bursarcast Podcast for a comprehensive exploration of the latest in independent school finance, legal developments, and their direct relevance to UK-based institutions.

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Independent schools vary widely in terms of their size, pupil population, location, provision and practice. Documents are offered as guidance only, in order to help schools prepare their own in a way that suits their own circumstances and reflects the needs of their own community, and the ISBA and our partners who have assisted in the production of the documents accept no liability for any claims or losses arising from their use. Before using documents from the ISBA library, and particularly after adapting them, schools should take specific legal advice

The ISBA Bursarcast is a RAFIKI STUDIO production