ISBA BURSARCAST // Inside the ISC Census: What the Data Means for Schools Ft. Julie Robinson and Dr Aidan Tolland (6th February 2026)

In this episode of The Bursarcast, we are joined by Julie Robinson, Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Council, and Dr Aidan Tolland, Head of Research and Data at the ISC, to discuss this year’s ISC Census.The conversation looks beyond headline pupil numbers to explore what the data tell us about the independent school sector, including trends in demand, bursaries and fee assistance, boarding, international pupils, affordability, and average fee increases.Julie and Aidan also discuss how ISC uses Census data in its conversations with government and policymakers, and what school leaders should be paying attention to over the next 12 months.For bursars, COOs, heads and senior leaders, the episode offers a practical look at how the Census can support strategic planning, financial modelling, governance discussion and wider sector engagement.Topics include pupil number trends, fee assistance, average fee increases, government engagement, political scrutiny and the key takeaways for senior operational leaders.Member 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.