Announcement to ISBA Members and Stakeholders: Retirement of the CEO

David Woodgate, Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Bursars Association (ISBA) has announced he will be retiring from the role next year.

He said:

“2026 will mark ten years since I assumed the role of Chief Executive, and after careful consideration I have decided that it will be the right time for me to retire. I have therefore informed the ISBA board of my intention to leave the Association at the end of June 2026.

“While I will be stepping back from this role, I certainly won’t be stepping away from the sector and am looking forward to building a portfolio career that I hope will make good use of the experience I have gained over the years.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the last decade, from growing our membership by 50%, to supporting the profession through the extraordinarily complex challenges of Covid, the imposition of VAT and the changes to teachers’ pensions. None of that would have been possible without the dedication and talent of colleagues, our Board, and our many partners. My sincere thanks to everyone who has played a part.

“There is still plenty to look forward to in the months ahead, not least the annual ISBA conference in May 2026.

“It has been a real privilege to serve as Chief Executive, and I am looking forward to seeing the Association continue to thrive in the years to come.”

Amanda Webb, Chair of the Board of Directors of ISBA, said:

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank David for his outstanding leadership over the past decade.

“Under his stewardship, the Association has strengthened its influence, broadened the appeal of the profession, and guided both members and the wider sector through some of the most testing challenges in living memory. In the numerous forums and sector discussions that shape the world of independent education David has consistently been a wise and trusted voice. Thanks to his contribution, ISBA is in a very strong position for the future.

“We are also grateful to him for giving us such generous notice, allowing for a well-planned and orderly transition. The Board will now appoint headhunters to identify an outstanding successor who can build on his legacy.

“We wish David every success in the next chapter of his career, but for now it’s business as usual. There is still much to do over the coming months, and we look forward to working with him through this important final stage of his time with us.”

Amanda Webb, Chair of the ISBA Board

David Woodgate, Chief Executive, ISBA

3rd November 2025