Independent Schools’ Bursars Association

Independent Schools’ Bursars Association [http://www.theisba.org.uk] originated as the Public Schools Bursars’ Association when its first general meeting was held on 26 April 1932 at Epsom College. The name was changed to the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association in 1983. The Association is a registered charity; the object of ISBA is the advancement of education by the promotion of efficient and effective administration and ancillary services at independent schools. In effect, the Association exists to provide support for bursars in independent schools and promote best practice. Although it is the school and not the bursar that is the member of ISBA, the bursar is usually the school’s nominated representative.

There are nearly 900 UK members with 30 overseas Associate Members. ISBA is one of the seven constituent members of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and is represented on the Governing Council and a number of ISC Committees. In some cases the Association represents ISC at meetings with the DCSF and HSE and provides advice on bursarial matters.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ISBAISBA has an elected Executive Committee whose members serve for two years, when they may seek re-election for a further period of two years. At this stage they leave the Committee unless elected either Vice Chairman or Chairman. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected at each AGM and may not hold office for more than three years. Details of the Constitution are in The Bursar’s Guide. There are 10 ordinary members of the Committee plus the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Scottish schools are represented by an elected or co-opted member.

The Executive Committee meets five times a year and devolves work to two Sub Committees, General Purposes and Finance. The Chairman of Finance also acts as the Honorary Treasurer of ISBA.

There are over 20 autonomous groups formed either regionally or by type of school and these manage their own affairs and arrange meetings, usually on a termly basis. The Secretariat attends these meetings by invitation whenever possible.

The ChairmanThe current Chairman is Danny Cooper, the Bursar of Eltham College. He became Chairman in May 2006 and hands over to the new Chairman at the Annual Conference in Edinburgh in May 2008. The current Vice-Chairman, Nicholas Marten, the Bursar of The John Lyon School, is the nominated candidate for election as Chairman.