Furlong

What Furlong does

Furlong is a UK-headquartered software company that builds a cloud-based Management Information System (MIS) and finance platform purpose-built for independent, international and SEN schools. Its core product, SchoolBase, covers pupil data management, attendance, assessments, admissions, reporting, timetabling, safeguarding, SEN management and parent/student portals, and is complemented by three add-on modules: TASS Finance (double-entry accounting for schools), FeeMaster (fee billing and invoicing that bridges MIS and accounting platforms including Sage and Xero) and Maestro (music lesson management). The platform is ISO 27001 certified, GDPR compliant, hosted on UK servers and integrated via API with more than 15 third-party education and finance partners.

The company generates revenue primarily through annual per-school subscriptions to SchoolBase and/or its modules, augmented by professional services for implementation, data migration, training and ongoing consultancy. Pricing is quote-based, bespoke to school size and module selection, and the go-to-market motion is sales-led enterprise field sales with dedicated account managers, supplemented by webinars, referral schemes, and presence at education trade shows such as BETT and COBIS. Customer base spans 250+ schools, 500,000+ users and 28 countries, including prep schools (Sevenoaks Preparatory, Kew College Prep), senior schools (St Joseph's College, Cransley, Prior Park, Kilgraston), international schools (Gulf English School, Pacific Group of Christian Schools, Brisbane Girls Grammar) and specialist institutions.

Furlong was founded in 2002 by Howard Langley, commercialised SchoolBase in 2004, acquired FeeMaster in 2008 and launched Maestro in 2019. In 2017 the company was acquired by Canadian vertical-software conglomerate Volaris Group, joining a portfolio of 400+ software businesses. Operating from Andover, Hampshire with 51–100 employees, Furlong is positioned as a relationship-driven alternative to generic MIS vendors, emphasising configurability, unified MIS-plus-finance data flows and education-specific expertise built over more than two decades.

Name

Furlong

Legal name

Furlong Solutions

Website

https://furlongschoolbase.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Furlong is a UK-based software company providing a cloud-based school information system (SchoolBase) and finance modules (TASS Finance, FeeMaster, Maestro) to 250+ independent, international and SEN schools across 28 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education / School Management Information Systems (MIS)

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Education ERP (Student Information, Finance, HR) (HDAEAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Billing, Tuition, Fees & Payments (including Cafeteria/Meal Accounts) (EDAFAEAN), HR, Payroll, Time & Attendance for Education (EDAFAEAD), Student Billing, Invoicing & Account Statements (EDALAJAC)

Keywords

• School management information systems
• Independent school software
• School finance management
• Fee billing software
• Music lesson management

Headquarters

HQ city

Andover

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SchoolBase MIS Subscription: Annual subscription for access to the SchoolBase MIS platform, priced per school/institution. Includes core student management, attendance, assessments, reporting, and parent/student portals. The subscription model provides recurring revenue with annual renewals and upsell opportunities for additional modules and users.
2. TASS Finance Subscription: Separate subscription for the TASS Finance double-entry accounting module, often sold as a bundle with SchoolBase for a unified solution. Includes accounts payable, general ledger, budget planning, parent accounts, and the Staff Kiosk self-service portal.
3. FeeMaster Subscription: Subscription-based fee-billing and invoicing software available as a standalone product or integrated with SchoolBase and TASS Finance. Revenue generated through annual licenses with per-school pricing.
4. Maestro Subscription: Annual subscription for the music lesson management module, available standalone or as part of the SchoolBase ecosystem. Supports visiting music teacher management, exam scheduling, and ensemble coordination.
5. Professional Services and Training: Implementation, data migration, and training services provided during onboarding. Includes project management, data transfer from legacy systems, face-to-face or online staff training, and ongoing consultancy. Offered as a paid service during implementation with follow-on training opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Furlong provides a modular, cloud-based Management Information System (MIS) and finance platform purpose-built for independent schools, SEN schools, and international schools. The core product SchoolBase handles pupil data, attendance, admissions, assessments, reporting, timetabling, and parent/student portals. It is complemented by TASS Finance (double-entry school accounting), FeeMaster (fee-billing and invoicing), and Maestro (music lesson management), all integrated via API with UK-based ISO 27001 certified hosting.

Product overview

Furlong offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture for independent, international, and SEN schools. The core product is SchoolBase, a comprehensive Management Information System (MIS) that handles pupil data management, attendance, admissions, assessments, reporting, timetabling, and communications. This core platform is complemented by specialized add-on modules: TASS Finance (double-entry accounting for school finances), FeeMaster (fee-billing and invoicing bridging MIS and accounting), and Maestro (music lesson management). Furlong also provides a Unified MIS & Finance Solution that combines SchoolBase and TASS Finance under a single supplier for seamless data flow between academic and financial operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SchoolBase: A powerful, intuitive Management Information System (MIS) for schools that makes pupil data management, attendance tracking, reporting and communication simpler.
• TASS Finance
• FeeMaster
• Maestro

Products and services

• SchoolBase A cloud-based, configurable Management Information System (MIS) for independent, international, and SEN schools. Covers pupil data management, attendance tracking, admissions, assessments and reporting, timetabling, communications, safeguarding, SEN management, library, staff HR, census reporting, and parent/student portals.
• TASS Finance A double-entry accounting system built exclusively for independent schools, with accounts payable, general ledger, budget planning, purchase requisitions, parent accounts, fixed assets, and Staff Kiosk self-service portal. Integrates with SchoolBase for real-time student data and is trusted by 400+ independent schools.
• FeeMaster Flexible fee-billing and invoicing software that bridges MIS and accounting systems. Supports recurring charges, single and batch invoicing, family billing, direct debits, customisable invoice layouts, invoice tracking, and automated communications. Compatible with Sage, Xero, and other accounting platforms.
• Maestro Music lesson management software for music-focused schools covering scheduling (rooms, resources, calendar), visiting music teacher management, exam coordination (Trinity, ABRSM), student and ensemble scheduling, attendance, and parent communications. Available standalone or integrated with SchoolBase.
• Unified MIS & Finance Solution A bundled offering that combines SchoolBase MIS and TASS Finance under a single supplier relationship, single contract, and single point of contact. Data flows seamlessly between MIS and finance, providing governors, business managers, and senior leaders with real-time insight across academic and financial performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools report significantly reduced administrative workload through automation of fee billing, invoicing, and reporting processes.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TimeTablercoreTechnology or IntegrationSchoolBase integrates with TimeTabler, a leading timetabling, options, and cover management tool used by over 2,300 schools. The integration allows seamless data synchronisation between timetabling and the school's MIS, eliminating duplicate data entry for scheduling and cover management.
• WondecoreTechnology or IntegrationSchoolBase partners with Wonde, a data synchronisation platform used by leading third-party apps to securely access school MIS data. Wonde acts as a protective layer between school data and educational apps, enabling safe data sharing with approved applications.
• Firefly LearningcoreTechnology or IntegrationFirefly is a modern learning experience platform that adapts to school needs and culture. The integration with SchoolBase enables seamless data flow between the MIS and Firefly's learning platform, supporting pedagogy-first digital learning environments.
• CPOMScoreTechnology or IntegrationCPOMS enables schools to manage child protection, safeguarding, pastoral, and welfare information within an intuitive platform, using appropriate data stored within SchoolBase MIS. The integration ensures safeguarding data is securely managed and accessible.
• SagecoreTechnology or IntegrationSage is an approved reseller and support partner of Furlong, offering Sage 50, Sage 200, and Sage for Education integration with FeeMaster. Over 3,000 UK schools use Sage products. The integration enables schools to manage all aspects of financial management with seamless data synchronisation between fee billing and accounting.
• InVentrycoreTechnology or IntegrationInVentry is the market leader for sign-in and visitor management in education, trusted by more than 10,000 schools globally. The integration with Furlong enables late pupils and early leavers to be synced back to the MIS in one click. InVentry also provides electronic sign-in for staff, visitors, and contractors.
• Solutions for Accounting and CRMcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFurlong partnered with Solutions for Accounting and CRM to enhance Sage knowledge and offer schools seamless integration between Sage and FeeMaster. Solutions provides Sage developers who tailor systems to school needs, while Furlong provides the fee-billing software. The partnership enables schools to automate and streamline billing and financial administration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bromcom: Bromcom provides a cloud-based MIS for UK schools (primary, secondary, MATs), with finance, HR, and student information modules. Direct peer in UK school MIS, serving overlapping customer segments and competing head-to-head in tenders.
• iSAMS: iSAMS is a direct UK competitor providing a school management information system for independent schools, with modules covering admissions, academic reporting, and pastoral care. Highly comparable to SchoolBase in target market, product scope, and customer segment.
• Veracross: Veracross is a unified school information system serving independent and international schools globally, covering admissions, academics, fundraising, and finance. Closely comparable to Furlong's unified MIS+Finance offering with stronger international school penetration.
• Engage (MySchool & Engage Assessment): Engage provides a school MIS for international and independent schools, with modules covering academics, admissions, finance, and wellbeing. Comparable in customer segment (independent/international schools) and product scope.
• FACTS/Renweb (Follett): FACTS (formerly RenWeb) is a K-12 school management platform covering admissions, academics, finance, and tuition management for private and faith-based schools. Direct functional peer for fee billing and SIS, with stronger North American footprint.
• Senior Systems: Senior Systems provides a school information system for private K-12 schools covering admissions, academics, finance, and development. Comparable product suite and customer segment, particularly for faith-based and private day schools in North America.

Broad incumbents

• Blackbaud K-12 Solutions: Blackbaud provides school administration, tuition management, and fundraising software to independent K-12 schools globally. Broad incumbent with overlapping modules but a much larger portfolio beyond K-12 SIS, including a separate SIS product (Blackbaud Student Information System).
• SIMS (Capita): SIMS is the dominant UK school MIS, used by a majority of UK state schools and increasingly independent schools. Broad incumbent with massive installed base and feature breadth, competing for the same MIS budgets as Furlong.

Emerging players

• Gradelink Student Information System: Gradelink provides a cloud-based SIS for small to mid-sized independent schools covering admissions, academics, billing, and reporting. Comparable product scope and customer segment, though typically serving smaller schools than Furlong's typical deployment.
• OpenApply (ManageBac Group): OpenApply is a school admissions platform for international and independent schools, now part of the ManageBac / Faria Education Group. Overlaps with Furlong's admissions and enquiry management functionality, focused primarily on the international school segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/furlongschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@furlongsolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/furlong

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Furlong