Foundations of School Finances - Tuesday 17 November 2026 (Online)

This course is for: Heads and members of Senior Leadership Teams in HMC and other independent schools.

Description

Course Programme

Time	Session
15.30	Welcome and introductions
	Introduction to independent school finance and explanation of charitable school accounting Profit vs surplus Benefits (reducing) of being a charity Principles of management accounts Reading management accounts Questions to ask Exercise – pick out key areas of concern Cashflow forecasting Example cashflow forecast Exercise – highlight challenges Budget setting Discussion on process Shared experience Current issues facing schools VAT and loss of business rate relief Teachers’ Pensions and alternatives Fee debt i. Principles ii. Recovery iii. Exercise on how to handle cases Options for schools – different ownership models / mergers / charity-charity vs private ownership Benchmarking Annual school benchmarking survey Customised benchmarking reviews Terminology - glossary Q&A
18.30	Close

Speaker Biography:

Nick was a Bursar of 36 years standing, having worked in day, boarding, single-sex and co-educational schools, and he is also a former Chairman of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA), before locking away his slide rule for the last time. He is now Chair of the Galaxy Global education Group, which owns 4 schools in the UK and others overseas, and also undertakes consultancy assignments in the independent sector. He has been Course Director for HMC PD’s Understanding School Finances courses for more than a decade. Nick is based in Anglesey, where he also runs a smallholding and holiday business with his wife, Suzi, a former Headmistress.