ISBA Annual Conference 2026

The ISBA Annual Conference brings together expert speakers, practical learning and specialist suppliers all under one roof.

Whether your school is large or small, prep or senior, UK-based or international, it’s your time to focus on your school or group priorities, explore opportunities, and take away innovative ideas and practical actions you can put into practice back at school.

The programme is designed with flexibility in mind, making it easy for bursars, heads, governors, DSLs, HR and H&S leads, and the wider operational team to attend on the day most relevant to their role.

Why attend the Conference

Whether you are a bursar, part of the finance team, a head, governor or member of the operational team, the conference offers space to think strategically and connect with peers and trusted suppliers who help strengthen efficient, safe and sustainable school operations. 

Sessions explore many of the key issues shaping school operations today, including changes in employment law, evolving parental expectations, financial sustainability, safeguarding, risk management and the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in schools.

Conference programme

Through a mix of keynote sessions, breakout discussions and practical personal development sessions, the programme focuses on strengthening strategic and operational decision-making. Drawing on sector insights and case studies, it gives school teams space to step back and consider how to keep their operations sustainable and forward-looking.

Programme highlights include sessions on:

• Trends affecting UK and international independent schools
• Risk management and mitigating global risks affecting schools
• Effective running of school groups: what we can learn from MATs
• Setting meaningful school KPIs
• Cybersecurity: safeguarding operational and financial risks
• Parental complaints: prevention, mitigation and resolution
• Employment Rights Act update – is your school prepared?
• Data and benchmarking: teachers’ pay structures
• Beyond the funnel: strengthening pupil recruitment for long-term financial resilience
• ISI inspection trends: guidance and lessons from recent inspections
• Critical incident management
• Safeguarding and emerging trends
• When AI lies, who is accountable?

On Monday, personal development sessions create space to focus on leadership, communication and managing complex professional relationships, supporting those responsible for leading operational teams through change.

Sessions will include:

• Mind the gap: creating psychological safety
• Designing your AI co-pilot: creating a personal AI framework
• Managing challenging relationships
• From busy to balanced: a calm, connected and confident toolkit for change
• Practical ways to increase your influence and reduce frustration

The ISBA exhibition

With more than 180 suppliers and professional advisors to independent schools, the exhibition provides a valuable opportunity to connect with trusted partners, discover new services and technologies, and explore innovations designed to help schools operate more efficiently.

Meet with caterers, architects, consultants, law teams, financial planners, support services, minibus companies, equipment suppliers, digital technology experts and many many more.

Click here to see the list of this year's conference sponsors and exhibitors.

Businesses interested in exhibiting or supporting the conference can browse the right-hand menu to explore the opportunities available or email: office@theisba.org.uk

Bring your team

Flexible ticket options make it easy to take part in a way that works for your school. Attend for one, two or all three days, and bring colleagues from across finance, HR, estates, IT, admissions or senior leadership so more of your team can benefit from the programme and exhibition.

Book your place: ISBA members can log in to book their place here