Fractional vs permanent bursar
A fractional bursar is normally cheaper than a permanent equivalent below approximately 300 pupils, where the workload genuinely fits two to three days a week. Above that threshold, the fractional model normally becomes more expensive than a permanent post or simply unable to absorb the workload.
Breakeven on pupil count
Two days a week of fractional bursar at the middle of the £275 to £475 day-rate band costs around £29,000 a year. The fully loaded permanent equivalent for a senior bursar with 25 to 32 per cent on-costs sits around £55,000 to £75,000 for a similar role. Fractional therefore wins decisively below approximately 300 pupils.
Apples-to-apples TCO
The fair comparison adjusts the permanent base salary upwards for employer NI, employer pension contribution, holiday entitlement and a modest cover allowance. The fair comparison also adjusts the fractional cost upwards for any handover, provider margin and project overflow days.[1][2]
When workload justifies permanent
A school with more than approximately 400 pupils, an active capital project, or a complex office team structure normally justifies a permanent bursar on workload alone, before any cost comparison. Above 600 pupils the fractional model is rarely a serious option.
When fractional is a false economy
Fractional becomes a false economy when the school relies on the bursar for line management of a sizeable office team, for daily safeguarding administration, or for in-school crisis response. None of these scales neatly to a part-time engagement, and the cost of mitigations normally exceeds the saving on salary.