The Education Periscope is a podcast for leaders in independent schools who want to stay ahead of change and make confident, strategic decisions. Hosted by John Murphie, former COO of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA), and Elise Tonnard, Ex-Bursar, consultant and leadership advisor, the show explores the real challenges and opportunities shaping today’s education landscape.
Each episode dives into key issues in school leadership, governance, finance, operations, culture, wellbeing, HR, and long-term strategy. Through expert conversations and practical insights, John and Elise help bursars, heads, governors, and senior leaders strengthen their leadership, improve school performance, and think proactively about the future.
If you work in or support an independent school — whether in operations, strategy, pastoral care, or governance — The Education Periscope gives you the clarity, context, and foresight you need to navigate what’s coming next.
Topics include:
• independent school management and operations
• strategic planning and governance
• financial sustainability and risk management
• leadership development and organisational culture
• workforce challenges and staff wellbeing
• innovation, change, and the future of education
Stay informed. Stay prepared. See further with The Education Periscope.
Produced by RAFIKI STUDIO
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Education Periscope is a podcast for leaders in independent schools who want to stay ahead of change and make confident, strategic decisions. Hosted by John Murphie, former COO of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA), and Elise Tonnard, Ex-Bursar, consultant and leadership advisor, the show explores the real challenges and opportunities shaping today’s education landscape.
Each episode dives into key issues in school leadership, governance, finance, operations, culture, wellbeing, HR, and long-term strategy. Through expert conversations and practical insights, John and Elise help bursars, heads, governors, and senior leaders strengthen their leadership, improve school performance, and think proactively about the future.
If you work in or support an independent school — whether in operations, strategy, pastoral care, or governance — The Education Periscope gives you the clarity, context, and foresight you need to navigate what’s coming next.
Topics include:
• independent school management and operations
• strategic planning and governance
• financial sustainability and risk management
• leadership development and organisational culture
• workforce challenges and staff wellbeing
• innovation, change, and the future of education
Stay informed. Stay prepared. See further with The Education Periscope.
Produced by RAFIKI STUDIO
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode tackles a quiet headache in many independent schools: you’re drowning in data, but starving for timely insight. John Murphie and Elise Tonnard explore how to move from gut feel and historic reports to a handful of simple, live numbers that actually change decisions. They unpack what “decision-ready” data looks like in a school context, how to avoid turning it into a giant IT project, and why constantly available information can calm fee-setting, staffing and board conversations. You’ll come away with practical steps to pilot one live dashboard this term – plus a teaser for how boards and leadership teams can use it together without drowning in paper.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN HOW TO:
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR
Heads, bursars, business managers, governors and senior ops leaders in UK independent schools who are making big decisions under time pressure and want clearer, calmer information to back them up.
RESOURCES & LINKS
https://theeducationperiscope.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This opening episode sets out why static, once-a-year strategies no longer cut it in the independent school sector. John Murphie and Elise Tonnard unpack what “agile strategy” really looks like in a school context: short feedback loops, digestible data, live risk conversations and plans you actually use between meetings. You’ll leave with a handful of simple moves to turn that glossy strategy document into a working tool for this term – plus a teaser for the next episode.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN HOW TO:
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR
Heads, bursars, business managers, governors and senior ops leaders in UK independent schools who are short on time but long on strategic responsibility.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.