Bursars Review | Autumn 2018 | Sample

Some 80 percent of the 122 school leaders who were questioned in a survey carried out by Outstanding Leaders Partnership, plan to maintain or increase levels of CPD investment in their staff. Leaders also see their own professional development as important, with 94 percent saying they would benefit from additional support and professional development. Almost half (48 percent) hoped to maintain investment in their own CPD and almost 31 percent plan to increase it. But the leaders said that budget concerns, staff recruitment, wellbeing, retention and accountability make up their top challenges to CPD, while the time taken up by leadership responsibilities mean that for the majority of them, their own professional development takes a back seat. There was a clear need for professional development and support for new school leaders, according to those surveyed. The main challenges that leaders faced in the first months in post were pressure of accountability and the need for new skills and knowledge. News Autumn 2018 www.theisba.org.uk 6 NEW HMRC GUIDANCE HMRC has confirmed that Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT will come into effect as planned on 1st April 2019. MTD is expected to be the most fundamental change to the tax administration system for at least 20 years. Your VAT procedures will need to change and you will need updated software to comply with the new requirements. Businesses need to be ready to: ■ keep VAT records digitally; and ■ submit VAT data to HMRC through compatible software. HMRC is not providing any software but has given details of software developers who have programmes that are MTD compliant. This list is expected to grow as more firms develop offerings and you can see the list here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-for- sending-income-tax-updates CPD IS A PRIORITY, DESPITE BUDGET AND TIME PRESSURES Boarding school fees slashed for children in care Dozens of independent boarding schools have signed up to a bursary scheme offering discounted places to children in care. The scheme, which is being run by the Department for Education-backed organisation, Boarding School Partnerships (BSP), requires local authorities to pay for 60 percent of the fees, with the remainder subsidised by the schools. BSP chair, Colin Morrison, said: "I would encourage all local authority children’s services departments to get to know boarding schools, meet the staff and discuss what they can do for children in care. This is a major opportunity for vulnerable young people to transform their lives after a very difficult start”. Schools minister, Lord Agnew, said: “We want a world-class education for every child, whatever their background, and know that boarding schools can be highly effective in improving both social and educational outcomes for some children who could otherwise have quite chaotic lives. "The commitment from so many of our best boarding schools to work with local authorities and subsidise boarding school placements will have a hugely positive impact on many vulnerable children”. Research undertaken by insurer Ecclesiastical identified reputational risk as the biggest concern for independent schools, with pupil well-being and safeguarding completing the top three. Alongside this, a poll run by them at ISBA's annual conference in Brighton last May, also revealed that health and safety and cyber risks are the two areas that bursars feel they need the most support with. Faith Kitchen, education director for Ecclesiastical, said: “While traditional risks such as health and safety and property maintenance continue to feature on the sector’s risk agenda, new and emerging issues such as cyber security and crime and reputational risks are becoming much more of a concern for independent schools. “The concern surrounding the impact of cyber-crime has also increased substantially year-on-year across the sector (from 61 percent to 68 percent) with 77 percent of independent schools identifying it as a concern". ISBA will be running a cyber risk programme for members this academic year with 12 (four-hour) training sessions at six different regional centres (Edinburgh, Guildford, London, Manchester, Wales and Bournemouth) plus an IT and Cyber Security Conference in March 2019. For more details please see: https:// members.theisba.org.uk/professional-development/2018-19-professional- development-courses.aspx GET TO GRIPS WITH NEW AND EMERGING RISKS Cyber security is becoming much more of a concern for independent schools ISBA CPD COURSES ISBA provides a comprehensive professional development programme for bursars and senior management staff offering expert knowledge, networking, support and the opportunity to gain new skills. To find out more please visit https://members.theisba.org.uk/professional- development/2018-19-professional-development-courses.aspx