When I was thinking of applying for the Bursar’s job at Fyling Hall I asked an old friend who had been a Bursar if she could tell me a bit about what to expect in the role, she said that the only thing she could really tell me is that ‘no two days are the same’.  This is probably the best job description that she could have given me.

A school Bursar is responsible for all the non teaching areas of the school, in Fyling Hall’s case this is the kitchens, cleaning, maintenance of the grounds & buildings, the stables, the finances, recruitment & admissions.

Some of the work undertaken over the past year has included the refurbishment of the MEM block creating a modern sixth form study area & common room, a new junior school classroom in the Ramsdale building and refurbishment of ‘The Dungeon’.  Most recently we redecorated the dormitories in the Main House & worked to replace lighting around the school with LED fittings to increase light quality, reduce maintenance & energy costs, this is probably most notable in the Sports Hall.

I work very closely with Ms Blackie to manage the school finances, ensuring that the school suppliers are paid on time, & we produce termly accounts for the trustees & the year end accounts.   Both Ms Blackie & I are regularly in contact via telephone & e mail with educational agents from around the world who are looking to place students at the school, they have numerous questions about the school & require quick customer service.  We also arrange visits and taster days for new pupils.

So there is no typical day as I am never quite sure what is coming next but a few recent quotes…’the heating has gone off in the boy’s boarding house’, ‘the mini bus engine isn’t working’, ‘there’s water coming through my classroom ceiling’, ‘the dishwasher has stopped working’, ‘we’ve no electricity’ to mention just a few!