BDSIP

What BDSIP does

BDSIP (Barking and Dagenham School Improvement Partnership) is a UK not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2018 and headquartered in Dagenham, London. It is majority-owned by local schools and was co-created with Barking and Dagenham Local Authority to deliver trusted school improvement services following shifts in the education commissioning landscape. The organization operates as a multi-service professional services platform for schools, with eight core service lines: Governance, Leadership, Curriculum and Teaching Excellence, Inclusion, School Performance, Health and Wellbeing, CPD and Conferences, and Careers and Aspirations. Service delivery combines direct school visits, school improvement partner (SIP) assignments, training events, and online CPD via the Cademy platform, supported by a free downloadable resources library that includes the locally-commissioned SEMH Handbook.

The underlying technology footprint is modest and largely third-party: Cademy handles CPD bookings and delivery, Arbor is the MIS system BDSIP supports schools with, LGfL provides connectivity and digital services, and the SEMH Handbook was produced using Canva. BDSIP's competitive differentiation sits in practitioner expertise rather than proprietary technology — its ~30-person team comprises former headteachers, Ofsted inspectors, BACP-accredited counsellors, and subject specialists with formal qualifications (NPQH, NASENCO, Reading Recovery, Level 6 Careers Guidance).

Commercially, BDSIP generates revenue through individually-priced professional service contracts and subscription packages: governance services range from £182 (Governor Help Desk) to £4,800 (Complete Governing Body Service), leadership services from £950 to £8,450, curriculum services from £2,850 to £8,450, school performance from £3,250 to £4,780, and health and wellbeing from £200 to £18,170. Annual CPD subscriptions are priced by school cohort size (£3,000 for 0-500 pupils, £4,000 for 501-1,000, £5,000 for 1,001+). Distribution is direct via field sales, phone (020 8227 2636), and email enquiries handled by the CEO and Service Offer team. The customer base consists of primary and secondary schools, school staff, governors, students and families, with primary demand concentrated in Barking and Dagenham and a stated expansion ambition across London and beyond.

Name

BDSIP

Legal name

BDSIP

Website

https://bdsip.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BDSIP is a UK not-for-profit school improvement partnership, majority-owned by schools, delivering governance, leadership, curriculum, inclusion, data, wellbeing, CPD and careers services to schools primarily in Barking and Dagenham and expanding across London and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School Improvement Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJAIAG

Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing Services (Counseling, Mental Health, SEL, Safeguarding)

SECONDARYEDAJAIAD

Safeguarding, Child Protection & Reporting Services

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing Services (Counseling, Mental Health, SEL, Safeguarding)

SECONDARYEDAKAJAJ

Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Learning Disabilities & Dyslexia Services

SECONDARYEDAJAIAL

Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing Services (Counseling, Mental Health, SEL, Safeguarding)

Keywords

• School improvement services
• Governance services for schools
• Leadership development programmes
• Inclusion and SEND services
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Dagenham

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, Others

Revenue model

1. School Improvement Services: BDSIP provides a wide range of professional educational services to schools including governance, leadership development, curriculum support, inclusion/SEND services, school performance/data management, and health and wellbeing. Services are priced individually and tailored to each school's needs.
2. CPD and Training: Continuing Professional Development courses, conferences, and training events for school staff including leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, and governors. Offered as individual courses and CPD packages with cohort-based pricing.
3. Careers and Aspirations Programme: Services supporting young people including careers advice, work experience placements, Aimhigher higher education programmes, Year 13 employability days, and primary careers programmes (Grown Up Me).
4. Governance Services: Expert-led Governor Services including Complete Governing Body Service, Full Governing Body Service, ad-hoc clerking, and Governor Help Desk to equip school governors and trustees with knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BDSIP is a not-for-profit school improvement partnership that delivers professional services to schools across London and beyond, including governance, leadership development, curriculum and teaching excellence, inclusion and SEND, school performance and data management, health and wellbeing, CPD and conferences, and careers and aspirations programmes. Services are tailored to each school's context and delivered by a team of experienced former teachers, school leaders, and Ofsted inspectors through a 'trusted partner' model.

Product overview

BDSIP is a not-for-profit school improvement partnership that provides a comprehensive suite of professional educational services to schools across London and beyond. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected service areas rather than a single unified product: Governance Services (equipping governors with strategic oversight capabilities), Leadership Services (developing school leaders at all stages), Curriculum & Teaching Excellence Services (strengthening classroom practice and curriculum delivery), Inclusion Services (implementing UDL and inclusive practices), School Performance Services (data management and MIS support), Health and Wellbeing Services (counselling and mental health support), CPD & Conferences (professional development training), and a Careers and Aspirations Programme (careers guidance from Years 8-13). All services are delivered through a 'trusted partner' model, working shoulder-to-shoulder with schools to drive sustainable improvement. A free Tools and Resources library supplements the paid service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Governance Services Expert-led services equipping school governors and trustees with knowledge, skills, and confidence for strategic leadership and robust oversight, including Complete Governing Body Service, Full Governing Body Service, Ad-hoc Clerking, and Governor Help Desk. Targeted at school governors and trustees in primary, secondary, and special schools.
• Leadership Services Leadership development services designed to strengthen strategic thinking, build resilience, and enhance decision-making, including Leadership Coaching, Leadership Development, Headteacher Performance Management, School Improvement Partner Programme, and Bespoke Leadership Support. Targeted at headteachers, senior leadership teams, and school business managers.
• Curriculum & Teaching Excellence Services Teaching and curriculum services supporting schools to strengthen classroom practice, build staff expertise, and deliver a rich, inclusive curriculum, including Curriculum Development and Adaptation, and Teaching & Learning Transformation. Targeted at teachers, curriculum leads, and senior leadership teams.
• Inclusion Services Inclusion services helping staff build an inclusive culture through evidence-based approaches such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiated instruction, and adaptive technology, including Inclusion Support and Specialist Support for Autistic Learners. Targeted at SENCOs, inclusion leads, and senior leadership teams.
• School Performance Services Data-driven services enabling schools to understand performance, identify priorities, and take action that improves outcomes, including Education Data Management, MIS Support (Arbor), and Digital Services. Targeted at school business managers, data leads, and senior leadership teams.
• Health and Wellbeing Services Mental health and wellbeing services helping schools create supportive environments where students and staff can thrive through proactive strategies and early intervention, including Counselling, Supervision, Whole School Wellbeing, and Multi-Disciplinary Therapeutic Services delivered with Words First. Targeted at students with SEMH needs, school staff, and senior leadership.
• CPD & Conferences Tailored, hands-on professional development training for all school staff including leaders, teachers, teaching assistants, and governors, delivered via the Cademy CPD platform and at in-person conferences. Offered as subscription packages based on cohort size (0-500: £3,000; 501-1000: £4,000; 1001+: £5,000) and via individual course booking. Targeted at all school staff and governors.
• Careers and Aspirations Programme Level 6 qualified careers advisors providing support for students in Years 8-13 through one-to-one interviews, assemblies, group sessions, and career events, including Careers Advice for Secondary Schools, Work Experience, Aimhigher: Higher Education and Employment, Year 13 Employability Day, and Grown Up Me: Primary Careers Programme. Targeted at secondary school students and their families.
• Tools and Resources Free downloadable resources for schools including the SEMH Handbook, Summer Reading Adventure, Arbor guides, SEND Learning Walk Proforma, Teacher Standards Monitoring Tool, Learning Walk Observation Proforma, and resources for Inclusion, Curriculum Planning, School Performance, Race and Social Justice, EHCP Process, and EYFS. Targeted at school leaders, governors, and teachers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2018, Barking and Dagenham has seen the number of Outstanding schools double
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• London Grid for Learning (LGfL)coreTechnology or IntegrationBDSIP partners with London Grid for Learning (LGfL) for digital services. The partnership provides schools with fast, safe, and reliable internet connectivity bundled with high-value resources that support both learning and operations.
• Words FirstsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDSIP offers Multi-Disciplinary Therapeutic Services from Words First, expanding the mental health and wellbeing services available to schools through this partnership.
• CademycoreTechnology or IntegrationCademy (cademy.io) is the CPD platform used by BDSIP for course delivery, training bookings, and CPD programme management. Schools login via this platform for professional development.
• ArborsupportingTechnology or IntegrationArbor is the Management Information System (MIS) that BDSIP supports schools with, providing guidance documents and resources for schools using this platform.
• Aspire Virtual School, LBBDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDSIP collaborates with Aspire Virtual School on research, thought leadership, and educational initiatives. Adela Kay from Aspire Virtual School contributes research on pressing issues affecting children and young people.
• Barking and Dagenham Local AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDSIP was created in partnership with Barking and Dagenham Local Authority in 2018. The Local Authority remains a key partner in supporting schools across the borough, including commissioning the SEMH Handbook.
• Emily Rubin / SEE-KS FrameworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDSIP partners with Emily Rubin (Director of Communication Crossroads, Palm Desert California) to deliver the Social Emotional Engagement – Knowledge & Skills (SEE-KS) professional learning framework to schools.
• Barking and Dagenham Schools (Co-ownership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDSIP is majority owned by schools, for schools. This cooperative ownership structure ensures deep alignment with school community needs and creates a true partnership model rather than a transactional service relationship.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• London Grid for Learning (LGfL): UK not-for-profit providing connectivity, digital services and safeguarding/digital wellbeing resources to London schools. Comparable as a strategic partner of BDSIP delivering the digital services and infrastructure element that BDSIP resells.

Direct peers

• nasen: UK national charity providing SEND training, resources and support to schools and professionals. Comparable to BDSIP's Inclusion services, SENDCo support and SEMH-focused inclusion training.
• Challenge Partners: UK school improvement charity and school-to-school network that runs the Challenge Partners Quality Assurance Reviews and improvement programmes. Directly comparable to BDSIP as a school-led improvement partnership providing governance support, leadership development and peer review to schools across the UK.
• National Governance Association (NGA): UK membership organisation for school governors and trustees providing training, advice and guidance on governance. Directly comparable to BDSIP's Governance Services (Complete/Full Governing Body Service, clerking and help desk).
• Optimus Education: UK provider of CPD, school improvement and leadership training to schools and academies. Comparable to BDSIP as a commercial school improvement specialist offering training, conferences and bespoke school improvement programmes.
• The Key: UK organisation providing CPD, leadership and operational guidance to school leaders, including governance and SEND support. Directly comparable to BDSIP's professional services to school leaders, and noted as a former employer of BDSIP's Finance Coordinator.
• Place2Be: UK children's mental health charity providing in-school counselling and wellbeing support. Comparable to BDSIP's Health & Wellbeing and Counselling service lines, with a similar school-based delivery model and BACP-aligned practitioners.
• Fischer Family Trust (FFT): UK education data and analytics charity supporting schools, MATs and LAs with performance data, dashboards and analysis. Comparable to BDSIP's School Performance / MIS / Education Data Management services.

Broad incumbents

• Education Development Trust: Large UK and international education services organisation (formerly CfBT) offering school improvement, leadership development, CPD and educational research. Comparable to BDSIP as a broader incumbent operating across many of the same service lines but at much greater scale and geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Whole School SEND: UK consortium led by nasen and the Council for Disabled Children to embed SEND expertise across schools. Comparable as an emerging SEND-focused improvement network that overlaps with BDSIP's inclusion training and Universal Design for Learning work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bdsip

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 BDSIP