Bursar’s Review Summer 2020.

3 @the_isba Summer 2020 Editorial Welcome to the Summer issue …from ISBA’s chief executive, David Woodgate. Bluett House,Unit 11-12,Manor Farm,Cliddesden, Basingstoke,Hampshire,RG25 2JB T: 01256 330369 E: office@theisba.org.uk W: www.theisba.org.uk @the_isba COMPANY NO:6410037 REGISTERED CHARITY:1121757 CHAIRMAN: Eleanor Sharman CHIEF EXECUTIVE: David Woodgate BSc (Hons) MBA FRSA EDITOR : Gillian Goode BA (Hons) E: gillian@bigpinecommunications.co.uk PUBLISHER Simon Moody PRODUCTION EDITOR: Nicky Rogers T: 01778 391128 E: nickyr@warnersgroup.co.uk EDITORIAL DESIGN: Dean Cole ADVERTISING DESIGN: Natalie Reynolds ADVERTISING MANAGER: Jayne Notley T: 01778 391189 E: jaynen@warnersgroup.co.uk ADVERTISING PRODUCTION: Ellis O'Connell E: productionc@warnersgroup.co.uk PRINTING: Warners Midlands Plc This publication is printed by Warners 01778 395111 PUBLISHING Warners Group Publications,The Maltings, West Street,Bourne,Lincs,PE10 9PH T: 01778 391000 The Bursar’s Review has been carefully prepared, but articles are published without responsibility on the part of the publishers or authors for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any view, information or advice included therein.Articles published in the Bursar’s Review do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, nor can the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, the publishers or authors accept any responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. What a time! As a sector we are certainly not strangers to the concept of ‘challenge’. However, COVID-19 has shot the term into a league of its own, with rapid change, confusion and uncertainty having assailed schools at considerable pace since the beginning of February. There is not much that I can say about this extraordinary time that hasn’t already been said, but I would like to express my pride in our member schools for having more than risen to this new challenge. You have continued to deliver excellence in education to pupils, managed your staff teams through remote working and dealt with fast-moving changes in regulation, all whilst under extreme pressure – both professional and personal. There is no doubt that our member schools have a body of highly skilled staff that is incredibly hard-working, conscientious and resilient, and you should be proud of the work you have achieved within the last six months. It has been ISBA’s aim throughout this crisis to support our schools by providing a range of flexible services to help you navigate this ‘new normal’ – both now and in the uncertain months to come. At the time of writing and since the pandemic hit, we have welcomed more than 5,000 attendees to our online webinars providing the most up-to-date guidance on the issues facing schools. We have also published more than 40 dedicated C-19 bulletins twice a week with key updates and uploaded some 400 guidance documents to our popular online reference library. Increasing the resources of our advice and guidance helpline has also meant we have been able to answer your questions quickly and efficiently. We thank you for your positive feedback and comments on our work to date and it has been our pleasure to support you through these trying times. As you will read on page 87 in this issue, we will be running a full programme of online webinars in the autumn as part of our 2020-2021 professional development programme and we would encourage you to put these dates in your diary sooner rather than later. We have also taken on board the feedback you provided in our recent members’ survey and there is more on the specific actions we will be taking as a result of this on page 86. It will come as no surprise to hear that this issue of the Bursar’s Review focuses very much on the impact of COVID-19 on schools, from the practical issues involved in re-opening (safe school transport, cleaning, HR and workforce planning as well as staff mental health) to the real need, perhaps now more visible than ever before, for financial strategy guidance, business continuity and resilience planning, and IT ideas for the future. One crisis that has not gone away in the midst of the pandemic is climate change and we cover the steps your school can take to help itself in articles beginning on page 44. With a bumper 70 pages of editorial in this issue, please do get yourself a coffee and read through at your leisure. David Woodgate Chief executive