Bursar’s Review

5 @the_isba Spring 2023 £6.99 | TheOfficialMagazineof the ISBA Spring 2023 The Bursar’s Review Spring 2023 Costof living crisisandstaffing considerations forschools Page16 HowVATon independent school feeswould impactevery family Page24 Businessrates update–whatwill 2023bring? Page28 Cyber threats in schoolsand the bursar’srole Page 56 Two supplements with this issue: ISBA SustainabilityGuide Finance and Risk in2023 and Beyond MANAGING THROUGH UNCERTAIN TIMES BR_Spring 2023_COVER.indd 1 08/02/2023 09:52 Check List TOP TIPS Many schools have only just started to return to some level of normality following the global pandemic, but there is now a new pressure in the form of the cost of living crisis. Hannah Wilding, associate in the Education team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys, offers some ideas to support members of staff who are struggling to make ends meet. PAGE 16 Out of all the articles in this issue of the Bursar’s Review, we have agged up some of the most critical topics for you to think about: 16 Cost of living challenges • Implement measures to support staff, whether financially, with their health and wellbeing or otherwise • Take proactive measures such as providing subsidised meals (if this is not already offered as a contractual benefit) 28 Business rates • In most cases the percentage change in actual rate payments for next year will be the same as the percentage change in the rateable value • Rateable values are now available to view on the Valuation Office website 34 Scenario planning • There are two economic factors to consider currently: inflation and interest rates • Business rate relief looks to be inevitable in England, it has been lost in Scotland and is being consulted on in Wales 39 Parental responsibility • Mothers will always have parental responsibility • Schools must always remain neutral 44 Fundraising • Legacy fundraising is an essential part of the fundraising mix • The most effective method of fundraising is the pursuit of major gifts 50 Storage and retention of safeguarding records and documents • IICSA recommends (in relation to CSA records) that files should be subject to ‘regular review’ • Part of the purpose of keeping records is to allow for the possibility of access later in life by survivors 56 Cyber threat to education • There has been an estimated 114 percent increase in cyber-attacks targeting the UK education sector since 2020 • The size of the educational establishment directly correlates with the likelihood of a breach or attack 62 Charities Act 2022 • The stated aim of the 2022 Act is to help charities by removing unnecessary or inefficient regulation while also safeguarding the public interest • The changes to be brought into effect by the 2022 Act will have varying degrees of impact on charitable independent schools 68 Construction procurement • Doing more work at the inception and design stage can reduce risk and give a clearer idea of costs • The environmental impact assessment should consider how sustainability can be built into the design 74 Creating an ESG strategy for your school • Your ESG strategy could be published on the school’s website to help increase transparency and accountability • It is important to guard against accusations of ‘greenwashing’ 84 Employment status in schools • For schools, questions of status most commonly arise with visiting music teachers • Decisions of employment tribunals are not binding on other tribunals 62