What Herts for Learning does

Herts for Learning Ltd, trading as HFL Education, is a UK-based education services provider founded in 2013 and headquartered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Registered as a private limited company (company number 8419581) and operating on a not-for-profit basis, it delivers school improvement, advisory, consultancy, training, and business-support services to primary and secondary schools, academies, multi-academy trusts (MATs), maintained schools, special schools, and private/voluntary/independent (PVI) early years settings. The company describes itself as having "hundreds of advisers and subject experts in-house" and positions itself as a single-source partner covering both educational and operational needs for schools nationally.

Its product portfolio spans curriculum programmes aligned to the English National Curriculum (ESSENTIALMATHS, ESSENTIALSPELLING, ESSENTIALWRITING, and ESSENTIALWRITING for Early Years), the evidence-informed HFL Reading Fluency Project (run across KS1–KS4 with an Education Endowment Foundation-funded trial), and school-improvement frameworks such as The Great School Framework and Early Years Quality Standards. Business services include HR (HRS Portal, Insights Discovery), finance and MIS (HFL Finance and MIS Framework), governance (Modern Governor), GDPR compliance toolkits, recruitment, technology services (HFL Broadband, Cyber Security for Schools), and quality marks. Delivery platforms include HFL Hub (training/e-learning), HFL Shop (e-commerce for resources and subscription toolkits), and direct advisory engagements.

The business model combines professional services (advisory and consultancy delivered by in-house experts), subscription and recurring revenue (training via HFL Hub, GDPR/PA Plus subscription packages), and one-time resource/license sales through the HFL Shop, alongside dedicated contract services for academies, maintained schools, and MATs. Go-to-market is a mix of enterprise/field-style direct sales to schools and trusts, event-driven acquisition (conferences such as the Primary and Nursery School Headteachers' Conference 2026 and GCSE revision workshops), and product-led e-commerce. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and services appear largely quote-based.

Name

Herts for Learning

Legal name

Herts for Learning Ltd

Website

https://hertsforlearning.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HFL Education (Herts for Learning) is a UK not-for-profit provider of school improvement, curriculum, training, and business-support services—including HR, finance, governance, and technology—for primary and secondary schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, and early years settings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Services and School Improvement

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Assessment-Integrated Curriculum & Practice Workbooks (EDAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• School improvement services
• Education advisory consultancy
• Curriculum resources primary
• School business services
• Educator professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Stevenage

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Advisory and Consultancy Services: Provides school improvement services, subject advisory services, and consultancy support to schools, academies and MATs. Delivered by experienced advisers and subject experts.
2. Training and Professional Development: Training services delivered through HFL Hub, including e-learning programmes, face-to-face training, and professional development courses for educators.
3. Educational Resources and Toolkits: Sells educational resources, subscription packages, and toolkits through the HFL Shop including ESSENTIALMATHS, ESSENTIALSPELLING, ESSENTIALWRITING, GDPR toolkit, SEND toolkit, and other curriculum resources.
4. Business Services for Schools: Provides business support services including HR, financial services, governance, GDPR compliance, recruitment, and management information systems to schools and academies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Herts for Learning Ltd (trading as HFL Education) is a UK not-for-profit education services provider that delivers school improvement advisory and consultancy, curriculum resources (including ESSENTIALMATHS, ESSENTIALSPELLING, ESSENTIALWRITING and the HFL Reading Fluency Project), school business services (HR, finance, governance, GDPR, MIS, broadband, cybersecurity), and professional development training to schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, early years settings and special schools.

Product overview

HFL Education operates as a not-for-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of educational services, training, and resources. The portfolio includes core curriculum products (ESSENTIALWRITING, ESSENTIALMATHS, ESSENTIALSPELLING, HFL Reading Fluency Project) aligned to the English National Curriculum, professional development platforms (HFL Hub, HRS Portal), business management systems (HFL Finance and MIS Framework, Modern Governor), specialized toolkits (GDPR Toolkit, SEND Toolkit, IAP Toolkit, PA Plus), and quality frameworks (The Great School Framework, Early Years Quality Standards, Wellbeing Quality Mark). The company also provides technology services (HFL Broadband, Cyber Security for Schools), recruitment solutions (HFL Supply Framework, Teach in Herts), and operates an e-commerce platform (HFL Shop) for resources. All offerings are designed to support schools, academies, and educational settings in delivering quality education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESSENTIALMATHS
• ESSENTIALSPELLING Innovative and complete toolkit for teaching primary spelling for years 2-6 aligned to the English National Curriculum.
• ESSENTIALWRITING Complete writing curriculum for ages 3-4 and Reception to Year 6 aligned to the English National Curriculum providing sequenced and progressive planning and resources for primary teachers.
• ESSENTIALWRITING for Early Years Innovative writing programme tailored for Early Years practitioners.
• HFL Reading Fluency Project Evidence-informed reading intervention spanning Year 1 through Key Stage 4 that supports pupils to make accelerated progress in reading comprehension and includes an EEF-funded KS2 trial.
• GCSE Revision Workshops Expert-led remote revision workshops for GCSE English, maths, science and triple science exam readiness.
• HFL Finance and MIS Framework Finance and Management Information Systems framework providing comprehensive business management solutions for schools and academies.
• GDPR Toolkit Subscription Subscription-based data protection toolkit providing GDPR compliance resources and support for schools.
• Internal Alternative Provision (IAP) Toolkit Toolkit supporting schools in managing internal alternative provision for students.
• PA Plus Subscription Package Subscription package providing administrative and support resources for school offices.
• SEND Toolkit Comprehensive toolkit for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support, currently in its seventh edition.
• Modern Governor Governance platform providing resources and support for school governing boards.
• HFL Broadband Broadband service for schools providing connectivity solutions.
• Cyber Security for Schools Cybersecurity services and support for school IT infrastructure.
• HFL Hub Training and professional development platform providing e-learning programmes, face-to-face training, and professional development courses for educators.
• HFL Shop Online e-commerce shop selling educational resources, subscription packages, and toolkits to schools and educators.
• HRS Portal HR services knowledge portal providing HR materials and resources for schools and academies.
• The Great School Framework School improvement and leadership support framework.
• HFL Education Wellbeing Quality Mark Quality mark recognising schools' commitment to pupil and staff wellbeing.
• Early Years Quality Standards (EYQS) Quality standards framework for Early Years settings.
• Insights Discovery Psychometric tool and coaching service used in HR training and leadership development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Evidence-informed reading intervention supports pupils to make accelerated progress in reading comprehension

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• Collins (Education Publisher)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollins is listed as a partner in the 'Who we work with' section of the HFL Education website, indicating a collaborative relationship in education publishing and resources.
• Department for Education (DfE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDfE logo appears in the 'Who we work with' section, indicating official recognition and collaboration with the UK Government's Department for Education.
• Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEEF logo appears in the 'Who we work with' section. HFL Education collaborates with the EEF on the Reading Fluency Project, including an EEF-funded trial of the KS2 Reading Fluency Project. The EEF is a leading education charity focused on closing the attainment gap.
• Education MutualminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation Mutual is listed as a partner in the 'Who we work with' section, indicating collaboration in the education sector.
• Eastern Partnership UK (SEND)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFL Education collaborates with Eastern Partnership UK on SEND support services, providing specialist expertise in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BBC Bitesize: Free UK public-broadcaster-provided curriculum resources for primary and secondary students. Indirect competitor to HFL's curriculum products — schools may substitute free BBC Bitesize content for paid HFL resources during budget tightening.
• RM plc: UK education technology company supplying schools with hardware, software, networking, and SaaS solutions. Overlaps with HFL's HFL Broadband, Cyber Security, and MIS Framework offerings, competing for school technology and infrastructure budgets.
• Pearson Education: Global education publisher and assessment provider with substantial UK K-12 curriculum, qualifications, and digital learning offerings. Competes with HFL across curriculum resources and professional development, but operates at much greater scale with broader international reach.
• Capita (Education Software): Operates the SIMS school management information system and broader education services business in the UK. Directly comparable to HFL's MIS, HR, and back-office business services for schools and academies.
• Oxford University Press (Education): Major UK-headquartered publisher of primary and secondary textbooks, dictionaries, and curriculum resources aligned to the English National Curriculum. Overlaps with HFL's curriculum product portfolio but offers a much wider catalogue and global distribution.

Emerging players

• Education Development Trust: UK-headquartered not-for-profit delivering international education programmes, school improvement, and teacher training. Comparable to HFL's school improvement and professional development business, with a more international footprint.
• Cornerstone Education (formerly known as CfBT): UK provider of school improvement, leadership development, and CPD services to schools and trusts. Directly comparable to HFL's advisory and school improvement offering, though smaller in scale.

Direct peers

• The Key: UK-based subscription service providing school leaders, governors, and business managers with guidance, templates, and CPD. Competes with HFL's leadership, governance, and school improvement advisory services for the same school senior leader buyer.
• Twinkl: UK-based digital publisher of teacher-created resources, lesson plans, and curriculum materials for primary and secondary schools. The closest direct competitor to HFL's ESSENTIALMATHS, ESSENTIALSPELLING, and ESSENTIALWRITING product lines, with a subscription-based model serving the same English National Curriculum market.
• nasen: UK charity providing SEND training, resources, and policy support to schools. Directly comparable to HFL's SEND Toolkit and SEND advisory services, serving the same specialist segment of UK schools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HertsLearning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Herts for Learning