Starting a school from the ground up in Australia requires navigating an extremely strict regulatory framework, securing serious funding, convincing parents, meeting accreditation standards, which may explain why fewer entrepreneurs attempt starting physical schools compared to entrepreneurs who dedicate their focus to so called edtech (education technology) or educational services. The high capital investment, long term commitment and no immediate big financial gains deter many from even trying. But … not my guest today though, but we’ll get to him in a moment.

I’ve decided to dedicate a portion of New Orchards bandwidth to Classical Education as well as other non-mainstream modalities not just because of my ongoing process of discovery which feeds my curiosity but more importantly I wanted this show to have a small role in moving the needle towards a more diverse educational landscape in Australia by promoting and telling stories of people who are going out of their way day in and day out to make that more diverse landscape happen brick by brick.

In Classical Education, physical brick-and -mortar settings hold quite a significant importance due to the pedagogical, cultural and communal principles that define this educational philosophy. The idea is to try and incorporate architectural elements inspired by classical traditions – such as columns, beautiful green courtyards, or art filled halls – to create an environment that elevates the soul and inspires deep contemplation. Such spaces reflect the tradition’s belief that physical surroundings shape both character and thought. Unfortunately, in today’s educational mainstream this is something that has been very much relegated to the fringes of priorities sadly with only very few people standing firm and defending the old tested principles. One such person is my guest today.

Father Stephen David - Head of St John of Kronstadt Academy in Brisbane, Australia. A father of two, Assistant Priest at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church and a commercial lawyer. A man of many talents and deep dedication if I’ve seen one. The reason why I wanted to bring him on is very simple. Unlike many people who have tried to start a new school and unfortunately failed he succeed. How he succeeded and what lessons can others draw from his amazing story will be the focus of today’s episode.

Links and interview references:

St John of Kronstadt Academy Website - www.stjohnacademy.qld.edu.au

FaceBook Page - https://www.facebook.com/classicalschoolbrisbane/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stjohnofkronstadtacademy/

YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@StJohnofKronstadtAcademy/videos