Scholengroep Connected

What Scholengroep Connected does

Scholengroep Connected is a Catholic school group (legally Connected vzw, KBO 0725.908.903) headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, operating 19 primary and secondary schools in regular and special education plus 2 boarding schools across the Gent region (Ledeberg, Drongen, Oostakker, Melle, Mariakerke). The organization serves more than 9,000 students aged 2.5 to 18 and employs over 1,500 staff, offering core educational services (basisonderwijs, secundair onderwijs across ASO/BSO/KSO/TSO streams, buitengewoon onderwijs for types 2, 9, and basic offer) alongside specialized programs including OKAN reception classes for non-Dutch-speaking newcomers and Duaal Leren (dual learning) at HTISA and OLVI Gent. Connected Academy provides internal professional development across four trajectories (Onderwijskwaliteit, Preventie en Welzijn, administrative support, and Krachtige Medewerker), with interdisciplinary data teams collaborating with Arteveldehogeschool researchers under the 'Traject Onderwijskwaliteit' to develop evidence-based pedagogical practices.

The underlying technology is modest and operationally focused: a SharePoint-based intranet called Connected Hub for internal collaboration, digital enrollment systems operated by the City of Gent (centraal aanmeldingsregister), and VDAB job portal integration for staff recruitment. There are no proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, SDKs, or app products disclosed. Student guidance and learning support are delivered in partnership with Vrij CLB Gent and Vrij Leersteuncentrum diverGENT.

The business model is that of a non-profit subsidized educational institution (gesubsidieerd onderwijs). Revenue is derived primarily from per-pupil Flemish government subsidies allocated to the network of schools, supplemented by parent contributions for boarding facilities, meals, and optional services. Enrollment in mainstream primary and secondary schools is mediated through a centralized municipal registration system, while boarding schools accept direct enrollment. The group was formed by the December 1, 2020 merger of six school boards under SKOG vzw, expanded in October 2022 with the addition of Sint-Franciscusinstituut, and rebranded to Connected on September 2, 2024.

Name

Scholengroep Connected

Legal name

Connected vzw

Website

https://connected.gent

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scholengroep Connected is a Catholic school group in Ghent, Belgium, operating 19 primary and secondary schools plus 2 boarding schools. The non-profit serves 9,000+ students aged 2.5 to 18 through government-subsidized education, special education, OKAN, and dual learning programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

Keywords

• Primary education services
• Secondary education services
• Special education programs
• Boarding school services
• Teacher professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Gent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Education Subsidies: As a Catholic school network (vzw) in Belgium, Scholengroep Connected operates primarily on government-funded subsidies (gesubsidieerd onderwijs). Revenue is derived from per-pupil public funding allocated by the Flemish government, supplemented by parent contributions for boarding, meals, and optional services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Scholengroep Connected operates a network of 19 primary and secondary schools plus 2 boarding schools in the Ghent region of Belgium, delivering Catholic education from age 2.5 to 18. Offerings include mainstream basisonderwijs (primary), secundair onderwijs (secondary with ASO/BSO/KSO/TSO streams), buitengewoon onderwijs (special education for types 2, 9, and basic offer), OKAN reception education for non-Dutch-speaking newcomers, and duaal leren (dual learning combining school and workplace). The Connected Academy provides internal professional development for staff across four trajectories (educational quality, prevention and wellbeing, administrative support, and non-subsidized staff development).

Product overview

Scholengroep Connected is a Catholic school group in Ghent operating 19 primary and secondary schools across regular and special education, plus 2 boarding schools. The organization offers a unified educational portfolio centered on providing inclusive, quality education from early childhood (2.5 years) through secondary completion. Core offerings include Basisonderwijs (primary education), Secundair Onderwijs (secondary education with ASO/BSO/KSO/TSO streams), Buitengewoon Onderwijs (special needs education), and Internaten (boarding). Specialized programs include OKAN for non-Dutch speaking newcomers and Duaal Leren (dual learning combining school and workplace). The Connected Academy provides internal professional development through four themed trajectories supporting teaching quality, wellbeing, administrative operations, and staff development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basisonderwijs (Primary Education) Primary education for children aged 2.5 to 12 years, offered across multiple schools in the Connected network in the Ghent region, providing a stimulating and safe learning environment.
• Secundair Onderwijs (Secondary Education) Secondary education offering a broad range of study directions, finalities, and domains across ASO, BSO, KSO, and TSO streams, enabling students aged 12-18 to explore interests and develop talents.
• Buitengewoon Onderwijs (Special Education) Specialized education providing adapted learning trajectories for children with specific educational needs, including types 2, 9, and basic offer programs.
• Internaten (Boarding Schools) Two boarding schools (Internaat Sint-Lieven Nieuwen Bosch in Gent and Internaat Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Presentatie in Ledeberg) providing students with a warm and structured living environment with attention to study guidance, leisure activities, and personal development.
• OKAN (Reception Education for Non-Dutch-Speaking Newcomers) Reception education program providing intensive language lessons and integration support for young people aged 12-18 who are non-Dutch-speaking newcomers to Flemish education.
• Duaal Leren (Dual Learning) Dual learning program combining theoretical knowledge at school with practical workplace experience, offered at HTISA and OLVI Gent within the Connected network.
• Connected Academy Internal professional development platform offering lifelong learning opportunities for staff across four trajectories: Onderwijskwaliteit (Teaching Quality), Preventie en Welzijn (Prevention and Wellbeing), Connected (administrative support), and Krachtige Medewerker for non-subsidized staff.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ArteveldehogeschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected Academy collaborates with researchers from Arteveldehogeschool in the context of the 'Traject Onderwijskwaliteit' (Educational Quality Trajectory). The interdisciplinary data teams across all schools work with academic researchers to develop evidence-based solutions for educational challenges.
• Leerpunt van de Vlaamse OverheidsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Leerpunt (Learning Point) of the Flemish Government provides support for the data-informed working approach developed within the Educational Quality trajectory of Connected Academy.
• Vrij CLB Gent (Centrum voor Leerlingenbegeleiding)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent guidance services are provided in partnership with Vrij CLB Gent (Halvemaanstraat 96, 9040 Sint-Amandsberg). CLB provides psychological, medical, and study choice guidance to students across all Connected schools.
• Vrij Leersteuncentrum diverGENTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected works with Vrij Leersteuncentrum diverGENT (Tentoonstellingslaan 2, 9000 Gent) for supporting students with GC-, IAC-, or OV4 reports, providing learning support for students with special educational needs.
• I-DiversosupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerI-Diverso is an external training partner collaborating with Connected Academy for the 'Krachtige Medewerker' (Powerful Employee) trajectory, providing professional development for non-subsidized staff such as technical, maintenance, and kitchen personnel.
• Katholiek Onderwijs VlaanderencoreOthersConnected vzw is affiliated with Katholiek Onderwijs Vlaanderen for Data Protection Officer services ([email protected]), whistleblower reporting ([email protected]), and other institutional support services.
• IDEWEsupportingTechnology or IntegrationIDEWE is the external service for prevention and protection at work. They provide templates and support for machine safety training and risk analysis as part of Connected Academy's prevention and wellbeing trajectory.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia Education: International premium K-12 school group operating more than 80 schools globally. Comparable as a multi-site K-12 operator with centralized professional development and quality programs, though operating a fee-based international model rather than subsidized public education.
• GEMS Education: Large international K-12 school operator running dozens of schools primarily in the Middle East and Asia. Comparable as a multi-school network operator with centralized support functions, though focused on premium international markets rather than Belgian subsidized education.
• Cognita Schools: International K-12 school group operating over 100 schools across multiple countries with a multi-academy governance model. Comparable in operating a centralized network of schools with shared pedagogical standards, though in a fee-paying rather than subsidized context.
• Katholiek Onderwijs Vlaanderen: Umbrella organization governing Catholic education across Flanders, of which Connected vzw is an affiliated member. Provides shared services including DPO and whistleblower channels; comparable as the broader institutional framework in which Connected operates.

Direct peers

• Scholengroep 17 Antwerpen: Catholic subsidized school group in the Antwerp region combining primary, secondary, and special education under a single non-profit structure. Operates the same gesubsidieerd onderwijs model as Connected, making it a near-identical institutional peer at city-network level.
• Stedelijk Onderwijs Antwerpen: City of Antwerp's municipal school network operating a comparable portfolio of primary, secondary, and special education schools in a major Flemish urban area. Closely matched in scale, mix of mainstream and specialized tracks, and reliance on Flemish public funding.
• GO! onderwijs van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap: Largest publicly-funded school network in Flanders operating dozens of primary, secondary, and special education schools across multiple regions. Directly comparable as a multi-site Flemish subsidized school group serving the same student age range with similar government funding mechanics.
• Penta Nova Scholengroep: Regional Catholic school network in Limburg offering primary and secondary education across multiple campuses. Same Flemish Catholic subsidized model as Connected, comparable multi-site structure and pedagogical portfolio.
• Scholengroep Brussel: Catholic school group serving the Brussels-Capital Region with primary and secondary schools. Comparable as a Belgian Catholic subsidized multi-school network, though operating in a more urban, multilingual context than Connected.

Others

• Arteveldehogeschool: Higher-education institution in Ghent that partners with Connected Academy on the 'Traject Onderwijskwaliteit'. Functions as an academic research and teacher-training partner rather than a direct competitor; included as a key ecosystem enabler for Connected's evidence-based education model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scholengroepconnected

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles30 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 Scholengroep Connected