SSAT

What SSAT does

SSAT (The Schools Network) Ltd is a UK-based education membership organisation founded around 1987 (incorporated under its current legal form in 2012, company number 08073410) and headquartered at Chiswick High Road, London, with approximately 101–250 employees. It serves primary, secondary, special schools and multi-academy trusts across England and Wales, with international reach via its iNet Global Network arm for schools, HEIs, FECs and Local Authorities outside England and Wales. Its purpose is professional development, leadership training, accreditation, and school improvement services — sold primarily through annual (12- or 24-month) school/MAT membership subscriptions, layered with paid CPD courses, consultancy, publications and bespoke school improvement work, plus a free Associate Membership freemium tier used as a top-of-funnel lead magnet.

The product portfolio is unusually broad for its scale: flagship programmes include Embedding Formative Assessment and 'Going Further with Formative Assessment' (built on more than ten years of research by Dylan Wiliam and Siobhan Leahy), the Lead Practitioner Accreditation framework and its Lead Practitioner Learning Centres, the Leadership Legacy Project (a national year-long cohort programme for early-career leaders launched in 2017 with 1,400+ alumni across ten cohorts), Student Leadership for IMPACT and the Student/School Recognition Schemes, Ofsted readiness tools (Audit Tool, Insights product, leader event), and a stack of coaching, behaviour, attendance, SEND/inclusion and curriculum programmes. Underpinning this is a digital stack built on Microsoft Azure and Office 365 (CRM, email, document management), AWS for web content, a Discourse-hosted community forum with gamified trust levels, a custom OpenID Connect SSO identity service at identity.ssatuk.co.uk, Stripe for payments, WordPress for the public site, Force 24/SendGrid/Typeform for email and forms, Google Analytics and Thunderhead One Engagement Hub for on-site personalisation, plus Trustpilot for reviews.

The business model combines subscription membership (with full remaining-period payment on early cancellation and no refunds), per-seat programme fees (e.g., Leadership Legacy Project £545+VAT per additional place beyond one free seat per member school), CPD course/event fees (with seven-day cooling-off cancellation and member/non-member pricing differential), Leadership Franchise and Student Leadership Franchise delivery-partner licensing, advertising sold via a dedicated Media Pack, and grant funding — most notably a multi-year DfE / Education Endowment Foundation Accelerator Fund grant supporting subsidised Embedding Formative Assessment places for state-funded secondary schools in England (third consecutive year in 2026). Go-to-market is direct and content-led: direct sales via the website segmented by phase (Primary/Secondary/Special/MATs/International), inside-sales 'Book a support call' consultations run by Senior Education Leads, in-person and virtual events including the SSAT National Conference, an SEO-optimised blog and 'The Library' of publications, and a franchise-based delivery-partner channel for localised programme rollout.

Name

SSAT

Legal name

SSAT (The Schools Network) Ltd

Website

https://ssatuk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SSAT (The Schools Network) Ltd is a UK-based education membership organisation providing professional development, leadership training, accreditation and school improvement programmes to primary, secondary, special schools and multi-academy trusts across England, Wales and internationally via its iNet arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Professional Development and School Improvement Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Teacher professional development
• School leadership training
• Education membership services
• School improvement programmes
• Formative assessment training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School membership subscriptions: Recurring 12- or 24-month organisational membership (school, MAT, group, international via iNet). Payments by cheque or BACS; trial memberships available; fees for the full period payable on early cancellation.
2. CPD course, event and programme fees: Paid CPD products including courses, training, consultancy services, resources and publications. Seven-day cooling-off cancellation; member discounts applied at point of delivery; non-member rates charged if membership lapses.
3. Leadership Legacy Project participation fees: Year-long leadership development programme; free first place per SSAT member school, additional places at £545 + VAT per head; non-members pay full programme price.
4. Leadership Franchise / delivery-partner licensing: Schools and MATs partner with SSAT to customise and deliver SSAT training (Leadership Franchise and Student Leadership Franchise), extending SSAT-accredited programmes into local networks.
5. Advertising and media-pack sales: SSAT sells advertising via a dedicated 'Media Pack' offering on its website (commercial activity is otherwise restricted under the Online Terms).
6. Associate Membership (free / freemium): Free Associate Membership network offering a monthly roundup of news, views, thought leadership and event/product information — supports marketing funnel and downstream conversion to paid school membership and CPD.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SSAT is a UK-based education membership organisation that sells school improvement and continuing professional development (CPD) services to primary, secondary, special schools, multi-academy trusts and international schools. Its portfolio centres on paid organisational membership plus flagship programmes such as Embedding Formative Assessment, the Lead Practitioner Accreditation framework, the Leadership Legacy Project for early-career leaders, student leadership training and recognition schemes, Ofsted readiness support, and bespoke leadership and school improvement consultancy.

Product overview

SSAT (The Schools Network) operates as a multi-programme professional learning and school improvement membership organisation rather than a single unified software product. Its core offer is centred on SSAT Membership (available to Primary, Secondary, Special Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts & Groups, the Leading Edge Network, iNet Global Network and as Associate Membership), which unlocks access to a portfolio of flagship development programmes such as Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA), Going Further with Formative Assessment, Lead Practitioner Accreditation and Lead Practitioner Learning Centres (LPLC), alongside practitioner resources housed in The Library. Layered on top of this membership core are specialist programmes for school leaders and middle leaders (Rethinking Headship, Head Cases, Leadership Consultancy, the Leadership Legacy Project, Quality Assuring Curriculum Provision for Senior Leaders, Curriculum Planning for Middle Leaders, Implementing Effective Change), inspection-readiness offers (Readiness for Ofsted Inspection: Insights for school leaders, the Readiness for Ofsted Inspection Audit Tool, Ofsted Inspection Insights), inclusion and SEND support (Leading Inclusion and SEND in Mainstream Secondary Schools, Attendance, the ASSIST Programme, Behaviour Support, the Framework for Exceptional Education, Parental Partnership Accreditation, the Race and Equalities Audit and RACE Charter Mark, the School Culture Survey), coaching and professional learning pathways (1:1 Coaching, Introduction to Coaching, Developing your Coaching Skills, Professional Learning for Staff), and student-leadership offers (Student Leadership for IMPACT, Training for your Student Leaders, the Student Recognition Scheme, the Student Leadership Franchise, How to Train Your Student Leaders, the School Recognition Scheme, the Children's Charter, and What Our Learners Need Now). Underpinning tools include TEEP (Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme), the Teaching & Learning Toolkit, the Whole School Audit and Support Package, and School Improvement Solutions covering Educational Outcomes, delivered alongside an online community forum and a centralised member identity/SSO.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iNet: The international arm of SSAT, offering international membership for schools, organisations, HEIs, FECs and Local Authorities outside of England and Wales (including Scotland and Ireland).
• Leadership Legacy Project
• Leading Edge Network
• Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA)

Products and services

• SSAT Membership 12- or 24-month organisational subscription giving schools, multi-academy trusts and international institutions access to SSAT CPD programmes, member-only resources and the SSAT community.
• Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA) Whole-school professional development programme training teachers and school leaders in formative assessment techniques; funded in successive years by the DfE/EEF Accelerator Fund.
• Going Further with Formative Assessment Advanced whole-school programme that deepens formative assessment practice for schools which have completed the EFA programme.
• Lead Practitioner Accreditation (LP) Nationally recognised accreditation that validates excellent teaching practice through evidence-based application and review; available to individuals, cohorts or franchised delivery partners.
• Lead Practitioner Learning Centres (LPLC) Network of accredited centres hosting visits and spreading best Lead Practitioner practice across schools.
• Teaching & Learning Toolkit Practitioner toolkit that translates evidence-based teaching and learning approaches into classroom-applicable strategies.
• Implementing Effective Change series Programme supporting school leaders and staff in leading evidence-informed change initiatives across their schools.
• Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme (TEEP) Established SSAT training programme focused on developing effective teacher practice, used as a foundation across the SSAT teaching and learning offer.
• Quality Assuring Curriculum Provision for Senior Leaders Senior-leader programme focused on assuring the quality of curriculum provision across a school or trust.
• Curriculum Planning for Middle Leaders Development programme for middle leaders on designing and sequencing curriculum within their subject or phase.
• Readiness for Ofsted Inspection: Insights for school leaders Programme giving school leaders insight into current Ofsted inspection priorities and how to evidence readiness effectively.
• Readiness for Ofsted Inspection Audit Tool Diagnostic audit tool that helps schools benchmark their evidence and provision against Ofsted's current inspection framework.
• Ofsted Inspection Insights Insight resource summarising current Ofsted inspection themes and implications for school leaders.
• School Improvement Solutions Bespoke school improvement consultancy offer covering Educational Outcomes and related tailored support for schools and trusts.
• Rethinking Headship Programme supporting current and aspiring headteachers to reflect on and refresh their leadership practice.
• Head Cases: Exploring Complex Headteacher Challenges Programme exploring complex, real-world challenges faced by serving headteachers.
• Leadership Consultancy Bespoke consultancy engagement for school and trust leadership teams delivered by SSAT leadership specialists.
• Leading Inclusion and SEND in Mainstream Secondary Schools Programme focused on inclusive practice and SEND leadership within mainstream secondary settings.
• Attendance Programme SSAT programme of support and resources addressing school attendance, including data-led intervention training.
• ASSIST Programme SSAT programme providing structured support to schools around behaviour, attendance and related pastoral areas.
• Behaviour Support SSAT offer supporting schools in developing whole-school behaviour systems and practice.
• Framework for Exceptional Education SSAT framework setting out principles and practices for delivering exceptional education across a school.
• Parental Partnership Accreditation Accreditation recognising schools that demonstrate strong, evidence-based partnerships with parents and carers.
• Race and Equalities Audit Audit tool helping schools review their practice on race, equality and inclusion.
• RACE Charter Mark Charter mark awarded to schools meeting SSAT's Race and Cultural Education standards for race equality work.
• School Culture Survey Bespoke survey instrument giving schools and MATs key insights into what staff are really thinking, supporting school improvement.
• 1:1 Coaching One-to-one coaching engagement for school leaders and educators delivered by SSAT coaches.
• Introduction to Coaching Entry-level coaching skills programme introducing participants to coaching approaches and techniques.
• Developing your Coaching Skills Intermediate coaching programme that builds capability and confidence in applying coaching in school settings.
• Student Leadership for IMPACT Programme supporting schools to develop student leadership that has measurable impact on the school and wider community.
• Training for your Student Leaders Training programme aimed directly at student leaders, building skills and confidence in leadership roles.
• Student Recognition Scheme Recognition scheme that formally acknowledges student leadership contributions and impact in schools.
• School Recognition Scheme Recognition scheme that formally acknowledges schools' work developing student leadership.
• Professional Learning for Staff Bespoke professional learning and training offer for school staff teams, delivered by SSAT.
• Student Leadership Franchise Franchise model that enables schools and organisations to deliver SSAT's student leadership programme locally.
• How to Train Your Student Leaders Practitioner guide and training offer that helps staff design and deliver training for their own student leaders.
• Children's Charter Charter framing SSAT's commitments to listening to children and young people in education.
• What Our Learners Need Now SSAT publication setting out what learners say they need from education now.
• Whole School Audit and Support Package Whole-school audit tool combined with a follow-up support package for improvement planning and implementation.
• Leadership Legacy Project (LLP) Year-long national leadership development programme for emerging school leaders within their first four years of teaching, run in annual cohorts (cohort 10 scheduled for 2026/2027).
• Leadership Franchise Licensing model allowing schools, MATs and Teaching School Alliances to partner with SSAT to customise and deliver SSAT-accredited leadership training in their local networks.
• The Library Online library of practitioner resources, publications, videos and tools that members can draw on to support school improvement work.
• Adaptive Teaching Publication SSAT publication on adaptive teaching produced in conjunction with ASCL and Dylan Wiliam to support inclusive classroom practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Embedding Formative Assessment is 'proven to positively impact GCSE outcomes, develop more engaged learners, help teacher wellbeing and retention, and create a greater sense of community.'
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, adjacent, minor and core.

• Dylan WiliamflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDylan Wiliam co-created the Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA) programme with Siobhan Leahy following over ten years of research; SSAT publishes adaptive-teaching content jointly with ASCL and Dylan Wiliam and structures EFA around his evidence base.
• ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-publication partner with SSAT and Dylan Wiliam on the 'Adaptive teaching' pamphlet and broader thought-leadership content aimed at school and college leaders.
• Microlink PC UK LtdadjacentStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest contributor (Marius Frank, Co-Head of Education) publishing a three-part blog series on SSAT; runs DfE-funded Assistive Technology programmes and the 'Neuroinclusive Classroom' Community of Practice offering 25% discount to SSAT member schools.
• UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting SSAT Lead Practitioner sustainability work at member schools (e.g., West Lodge Primary); involved in expert panels and national conversations.
• The Teaching CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSAT Director Angelina Idun joined The Teaching Commission, chaired by Professor Mary Bousted, informing its 'Shaping the Future' report on teacher recruitment and retention and a new 2026 inquiry on implementing the revised National Curriculum.
• Microsoft (Office 365 and Azure)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of SSAT's CRM, email, document management, collaboration tools (Office 365) and cloud platform (Azure), hosted in Europe; underpins the SSAT digital services stack.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides web content storage for SSAT (Europe region) and global web content caching.
• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationWorldwide online payment processing for SSAT digital services and membership purchases.
• Force 24coreTechnology or IntegrationUK-based email marketing platform used for SSAT's marketing email sends.
• SendGridcoreTechnology or IntegrationTransactional email provider (e.g., password resets) for SSAT digital services.
• Google AnalyticscoreTechnology or IntegrationWorldwide web-activity tracking; first-party cookies used to identify popular pages and posts on ssatuk.co.uk.
• Discourse HostingcoreTechnology or IntegrationNetherlands-based managed hosting of the SSAT Discourse discussion forum at discuss.ssatuk.co.uk.
• Meta Corporation (Facebook Lead Ads with Instant Forms)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal paid social channel used by SSAT to capture lead data via Facebook Lead Ads with Instant Forms.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Teach First: Major UK education charity focused on teacher training, leadership development and addressing educational disadvantage. Comparable to SSAT's teacher development and leadership pipeline work, though operating at much larger scale.
• Education Development Trust: Large international education services organisation delivering school improvement, teacher development and government education programmes. A broad incumbent overlapping SSAT's CPD, school improvement and international (iNet) work.
• UCL Institute of Education (IOE): Leading UK provider of teacher training, CPD, leadership programmes and education research with strong links to school improvement. Comparable to SSAT on CPD and leadership development, with academic/research depth SSAT does not own.

Emerging players

• nasen (National Association for Special Educational Needs): UK membership organisation providing CPD, resources and policy work for SEND and inclusion. Comparable to SSAT's SEND/inclusion programmes (e.g., Leading Inclusion and SEND in Mainstream Secondary Schools) and membership model.
• Whole Education: UK network focused on a broad, balanced curriculum and CPD for school leaders. Comparable as a network-based, school-improvement membership model, though with a narrower curriculum-focused proposition than SSAT's broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Ambition Institute: UK charity delivering evidence-based teacher and leadership development programmes (including NPQs) to schools and MATs. Closely comparable to SSAT's CPD, leadership training and accreditation portfolio, with similar grant-funded models.
• Challenge Partners: UK school improvement charity running a national network of schools with peer review, leadership development and school-to-school collaboration. Comparable to SSAT's network-anchored school improvement and Leading Edge model.
• Optimus Education: UK provider of CPD, leadership development and school improvement services to school leaders. Direct competitor in the membership + CPD + leadership training space SSAT occupies.
• Best Practice Network: UK teacher training and CPD provider offering NPQs, School Direct and leadership programmes. Comparable to SSAT in delivering accredited professional development to schools and MATs across the UK.
• Chartered College of Teaching: UK professional body for teachers offering membership, CPD resources, publications and a chartered teacher pathway. Comparable as a teacher-facing membership and professional learning organisation in the same UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ssatuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ssat-the-schools-network
• Xx.com/ssat

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SSAT