ISBA BURSARCAST // Rising Fee Arrears in Independent Schools ft. RedWood collections + Spring round up (20th March 2026)

This week’s ISBA Bursarcast looks at rising fee arrears in independent schools — and what bursars and finance teams can do to respond earlier, more consistently, and with greater confidence.We speak to Richard Monan from Redwood Collections about what schools are seeing on the ground, including debts that are becoming older, larger and harder to recover.In this episodeWhy fee arrears are becoming more difficult to manageHow post-VAT pressure is affecting parent debt and school decisionsWhy good arrears management starts with process and consistencyThe value of a structured 7 / 14 / 21-day follow-up cycleWhy schools should not wait too long before escalating or seeking specialist supportCommon dispute areas, including fees in lieu of notice and separated parentsThe risk of losing credibility by setting timelines and not following throughHow to balance fair treatment, compassion and consistencyWhy governors should keep sight of cost versus recoveryRedwood’s wider support, including credit management, Parent Check Plus, and options for historic debt portfoliosAlso in this week’s sector updatesISBA’s Spring Term Sector Update recording is now availableKey changes on restrictive interventions, mobile phone policy, employment law and TPS budgetingA preview of ISBA Annual Conference 2026Updated Scottish employment contract templatesA useful read on the updated Charity Governance CodeCurrent bursar vacancies at Stover School and St Cedd’s SchoolAdvice on verifying referencesAn inspection reminder on supply staff and the SCRThe latest update on the meningitis outbreak in KentA call for feedback on the template safeguarding policyThe extended Stickman Pupil Recruitment Risk CheckA free ACAS neurodiversity webinarUpdates to Working Together to Safeguard ChildrenThe next NABs programme and upcoming ISBA webinarsResources mentioned (Members only)ISBA Weekly Bulletin 10ISBA Reference LibraryISBA Spring Term Sector UpdateISBA Annual Conference 2026 — 11–13 May, ICC WalesISBA Safer Recruitment PackMore from Redwood Collections: https://www.redwoodcollections.com/Subscribe & FollowNew episodes every Friday at 4pm 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.