Membership of the Association is open to bursars, school business managers, senior administrators (the extent of senior management posts and the titles vary but generally the title of bursar is used) from all types of schools, maintained and independent, and all categories of schools e.g. junior, primary senior, secondary, senior.

The exact criteria for membership is set out in the joining section.

• The cost varies usually dependent on the number of pupils in the school.
• The individual is entered on the roll as the member although generally the school pays the subscription fee from training funds
• In addition, membership is open to those who seek a career in education and who are not yet employed as bursars.

The Association’s Chief Executive will be pleased to discuss any specific questions relating to membership.

What are the Benefits of Joining?

In the maintained sector the importance of the position of the bursar is now being widely recognised, although it has always been acknowledged in other sectors that the person holding the post of bursar is vital in the school’s managerial organisation.

The Association has been at the forefront of emphasising the need for bursars in schools and is seen as one of the main contributors in the debate, at the highest levels, to improve and advance schools’ management.

Membership of the Association provides:

• Access to a professional organisation which provides professional services to the individual;
• Permits input by individuals to the national debate on schools' management;
• Support, advice and links to others holding similar posts throughout the country;
• Entrance to the Association's university accredited qualification, the NBA National Registration Scheme.

The Association is not a trade union but works closely with educational trade unions and the main educational associations. Through its links with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers it permits members to join ATL under the NBA/ATL Group Affiliation Scheme.