Collegue Cardinal Mercier

What Collegue Cardinal Mercier does

Collège Cardinal Mercier ASBL is a Belgian Catholic non-profit (Association Sans But Lucratif, enterprise number 0410.260.708) operating a multi-tier private secondary education institution in Braine-l'Alleud, Walloon Brabant, with a secondary site in Waterloo. Founded on 22 September 1923 at the request of Cardinal Mercier and opened on 7 May 1924 with four students, the institution now operates four distinct schools under one organizing authority: École primaire Cardinal Mercier (primary), Degré d'Observation Autonome (1st-2nd secondary, ~850 students across 37 classes), Humanités (3rd-6th general secondary), and Institut Cardinal Mercier (3rd-6th technical and qualification secondary). The Institut includes a specialty hospitality track, École Hôteli'ère 'Les Roussettes', operating a training restaurant in Waterloo. The school celebrated its centenary in 2023-2024.

The underlying technology stack is built on third-party integrations rather than proprietary infrastructure. Pedagogical delivery and parent-teacher communication run through the Smartschool learning management system; campus commerce (meals, procure, photocopies) is handled via the XAFAX/MyNetPay payment platform backed by AP-Kiosk magnetic cards. Sports center subscriptions run on iClubbe; administrative student management is outsourced to Infodidac; catering is contracted to Compass Group Belgilux; communications run on Google Workspace; debt collection is managed via Intrum. Unique product features include a late Dutch immersion (EMILE) program since 2010 and the Pôle Hedera collaboration for inclusive education under the PIB framework. The campus includes a sports center with pool, library, infirmary, multiple dining facilities, and is accessible via TEC bus lines and the Braine-l'Alleud train station.

Revenue is generated through subsidized tuition set per Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles guidelines, supplemented by ancillary streams: catering (transaction-based magnetic card reloads), sports activities (€60-€90 per semester), procure/supplies sales, sports center subscriptions (iClubbe), and centenary merchandise including 'Les Cardinales' specialty beers sold via online boutique. Go-to-market is direct enrollment through four school secretariats with scheduled information evenings and campus visits; the distribution channel is entirely direct, with no intermediaries. GDPR compliance is maintained under a DPO appointed via BASIC PLUS (Liège), processing student, health, financial, and image data per EU Regulation 2016/679. The institution is governed as an ASBL with no shareholders, operating under a Pouvoir organisateur with parent (A.P.C.C.M.) and alumni (A.A.C.C.M.) participation via the Conseil de Participation.

Name

Collegue Cardinal Mercier

Legal name

Collège Cardinal Mercier ASBL

Website

https://collegecardinalmercier.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Collège Cardinal Mercier is a Belgian Catholic non-profit (ASBL) secondary school network in Braine-l'Alleud and Waterloo, operating four schools (primary, observation cycle, general, and technical) for roughly 2,500-3,500 students with Smartschool LMS and XAFAX payment platforms under Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Braine-l'alleud

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and School Fees: Annual school fees for secondary education, managed centrally and by individual schools, set in accordance with Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles guidelines
2. Catering Services: Food services operated by Compass Group, including self-service, cafeteria, and quick-service outlets. Students pay using magnetic cards loaded via online platform
3. Sports Activities: Extracurricular sports programs including gymnastics, badminton, climbing, athletics. Charged per semester
4. Procure Services: School supplies, materials, and merchandise sold through the procure including notebooks, school supplies, and CCM branded clothing
5. Centenary Merchandise: Specialty beers 'Les Cardinales' brewed for the school's 100th anniversary, sold through online boutique

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Collège Cardinal Mercier is a multi-school Catholic educational institution operating four schools that together provide a complete educational continuum: primary education (Écoles fondamentales), an autonomous observation cycle covering 1st and 2nd year secondary (Degré d'Observation Autonome), general secondary education for 3rd to 6th year (Humanités), and technical/qualification secondary education for 3rd to 6th year (Institut Cardinal Mercier) with tracks in applied sciences, economics, physical education, informatics, hospitality/restaurant management, and office management. Teaching and campus services are delivered through two integrated platforms: Smartschool for pedagogical management and parent communication, and XAFAX/MyNetPay for secure campus payments via magnetic cards used at the dining hall and procure. The main campus is in Braine-l'Alleud, with a secondary site at Chemin des Roussettes 10, Waterloo.

Product overview

Collège Cardinal Mercier operates as a multi-school Catholic educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs across five interconnected schools. The institution comprises: (1) Écoles fondamentales (primary education), (2) Degré d'Observation Autonome (DOA) for 1st-2nd secondary, (3) Humanités for general secondary 3rd-6th years, and (4) Institut Cardinal Mercier for technical secondary education 3rd-6th years. Supporting the academic offerings are two digital platforms: Smartschool (pedagogical/learning management system) and XAFAX/MyNetPay (secure payment platform for campus transactions). The campus is located in Braine-l'Alleud with an additional site in Waterloo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smartschool: Pedagogical platform used by the school for educational management
• Les Cardinales
• Les Roussettes

Products and services

• Écoles fondamentales (Collège Cardinal Mercier primary school) Primary school education program (ages 6-12) providing foundational education for children before secondary school entry within the Collège Cardinal Mercier Catholic school network.
• Degré d'Observation Autonome (DOA) Autonomous observation degree offering 1st and 2nd year secondary education, designed to facilitate the transition from primary to secondary school, with approximately 850 students across 37 classes.
• Humanités General secondary education program covering 3rd to 6th years (general transition education), preparing students for university or higher education, with options including the late Dutch immersion (EMILE) track.
• Institut Cardinal Mercier Technical and qualification secondary education (3rd to 6th years) offering specialized programs in applied sciences, economics, physical education, informatics, hospitality and restaurant management, and office management, with the Les Roussettes hotel-school restaurant on the Waterloo site.
• Extracurricular sports activities Extracurricular sports programs including gymnastics, badminton, climbing, and athletics, charged per semester and operated through the campus sports center and iClubbe subscription management system.
• Unité scoute du Collège Cardinal Mercier (U.S.C.C.M.) School scout unit for children ages 6-18 with 350+ members and 70 animators across 11 sections, organized through the school as an extracurricular youth program.
• Catering services (Compass Group operated) On-campus food services operated by Compass Group Belgilux, including self-service restaurant, Key-West quick-service outlet, and cafeteria; students pay using magnetic cards loaded via the online XAFAX platform.
• Procure (school supplies and CCM branded merchandise) School supplies, materials, and merchandise sold through the campus procure, including notebooks, school supplies, and CCM branded clothing.
• Centenary merchandise 'Les Cardinales' craft beers Specialty craft beers 'Les Cardinales' brewed to celebrate the school's 100th anniversary, sold through an online boutique as part of the school's centenary activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37 classes and approximately 850 students in first cycle alone, demonstrating scale and community trust
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pôle Territorial HederacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerritorial pole for integration and inclusion of students with specific needs. Provides resources, tools, training, and daily support to teachers, management, families, and adolescents. Address: Rue Barbier 12, 1300 Wavre
• SmartschoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware provider for pedagogical management platform used by the school for communication, assignments, and student tracking
• Compass Group BelgiluxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering services provider managing all food services on campus including self-service restaurant, Key-West quick service, and cafeteria
• T.E.C. (Transport En Commun)minorOthersPublic transportation provider with bus services connecting the school to Braine-l'Alleud train station and surrounding areas
• Service P.S.E. (Promotion de la Santé à l'École)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool health service responsible for health examinations, vaccinations, and wellness programs. Located at Chemin des Roussettes 15, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud
• Centre Psycho-Médico-Social LibrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPsychological and social support center for students. Provides guidance on academic motivation, study methods, career choices, and personal balance. Located at Chaussée Reine Astrid 79, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Collège Saint-Michel (Brussels): Jesuit Catholic secondary and primary school in Brussels, sharing the same Catholic education network (Segec/FWB) as CCM. Comparable on values-based pedagogy, multi-track secondary offering, and bilingual tracks.
• Collège Saint-Pierre (Uccle): Catholic secondary school in the Brussels area operating under the same Belgian Catholic education network. Comparable multi-track general and technical secondary curricula with regulated tuition.
• Collège Jean XXIII (Bruxelles): Catholic secondary school in Brussels area operating within the same Belgian Catholic education network. Comparable multi-track secondary offering and regulated-fee structure for francophone families.
• Lycée Français Jean Monnet (Brussels): AEFE-affiliated French international secondary school in Brussels. Comparable on French-language immersion, secondary grade range, and Catholic/family-oriented positioning; represents a competing premium alternative for francophone families in Walloon Brabant.
• Athénée Royal de Braine-l'Alleud: Public secondary school located in the same commune as CCM. Directly comparable on geography, student demographic, and grade range, serving as the principal public-sector alternative for Braine-l'Alleud families.
• European School Brussels III: European Schools system secondary campus in Brussels. Comparable on grade range and multilingual curriculum, but serves a primarily international student body; represents a premium-priced alternative to CCM in the same metropolitan market.
• Institut Saint-Boniface: Brussels-based Catholic secondary school under the same Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles network. Directly comparable on Catholic identity, regulated fee model, multi-track secondary curriculum, and French-speaking Belgian private school positioning.

Others

• SeGEC (Secrétariat Général de l'Enseignement Catholique): The coordinating body for Catholic education in Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, of which CCM is a member. Relevant as an enabling/governing peer that shapes funding, accreditation, and network positioning for CCM and its direct-peer schools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/scoutccm
• Instagraminstagram.com/doa.ccm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Collegue Cardinal Mercier