Small Schools by Design: Why Size, Relationships and Culture Beat Scale
From Education Incorporated (Edu Inc) Private School by Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard
May 15, 2026 · 1h 18m
About this episode
The episode discusses the advantages of small, intentionally designed learning environments through the experiences of micro-school heads and their students.
A German micro-school head on family, purpose and intentional education This fireside conversation is for parents, psychologists and anyone working with children's wellbeing who is questioning whether a small or micro school is a legitimate choice rather than a compromise. Christian Convence, head of a family-run micro school near Aachen in Germany, joins fellow small-school head, Gershom Aitchison, from South Africa to explain why their schools exist, what drives families toward them, and what children actually gain in a small, intentionally designed learning environment. Christian traces his school's origins from 1995, when his father resigned from closing down state schools, through a 2004 monastery purchase and steady growth to a deliberate cap of 150 students. He explains the German Abitur system, how international students from China navigate it, and why his school's flexibility to prepare students without being bound by internal grading gives struggling learners a genuine second chance. The episode directly tackles the three most common objections to small schools: poor socialisation, lack of sport, and obscure credentials. Four students, Jesse, Paola, JP and Miles, speak…
People in this episode
Guests: Christian Convence, Gershom Aitchison
Topics covered
- micro-schools
- education
- child wellbeing
- small school benefits
- family-run education
- socialization in schools
- flexible learning environments
Keywords
- micro-school
- education
- small schools
- German Abitur
- student wellbeing
- flexibility in education
- socialization
- academic rebuilding
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: German micro-school
Places: Aachen, South Africa
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