What Sectorraad GO does

Sectorraad GO is the unified Dutch sector council for specialized education (gespecialiseerd onderwijs), formed on January 1, 2021 through the merger of LECSO and SBOwerkverband. The organization represents school boards and schools operating in SBO (speciaal basis onderwijs), SO (speciaal onderwijs), and VSO (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) across former clusters 3 and 4, encompassing 826 member locations serving more than 100,000 students across 35 Dutch regions. It works in close collaboration with VIVIS and Simea, which cover clusters 1 and 2, to provide comprehensive sector representation. Sectorraad GO's core technology consists of standard web platforms, the Dashboard Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs for public data analysis, and the GOpen collaborative project with Impuls Open Leermateriaal for developing customized open learning materials and kerndoelkaarten.

The organization's portfolio of services includes the MDT in het VSO civic service program, GO OPP-Trainingen for Individual Development Plan professional development, the annual GOngres congress and Kennisfestival, and the Rijke Schooldag enrichment program. It maintains a Leerstoel Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs research chair at the University of Amsterdam (held by Peer van der Helm) and operates a member helpdesk. Sectorraad GO engages in regular policy consultation with the Ministry of OCW, VWS, SZW, the Inspectie van het Onderwijs, the Onderwijsraad, and VNG, and coordinates cross-sector initiatives including Zorg in Onderwijstijd (ZiO) with Jeugdzorg Nederland, VGN, and LBVSO.

The business model is membership-based with recurring subscription revenue from school boards, supplemented by per-participant fees for events and training programs (e.g., GOngres International 2026 at €295 per participant, Leergang kwaliteitszorg at €2,350 per person). As a non-profit association, Sectorraad GO is governed by a board led by Chairman Johan van Triest and Director Alain van de Haar, with a small central bureau of approximately 8 active staff based in Utrecht. The go-to-market is relationship-driven through advocacy, networking, congresses, portfolio groups, and collaborative policy engagement rather than transactional sales.

Name

Sectorraad GO

Legal name

Sectorraad GO

Website

https://gespecialiseerdonderwijs.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sectorraad GO is the Dutch non-profit sector council representing 826 specialized education schools (SBO, SO, VSO) serving 100,000+ students, formed in 2021 from the merger of LECSO and SBOwerkverband. It provides advocacy, professional development, open learning materials, and policy consultation to its member school boards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Sector Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Specialized education advocacy
• Education sector representation
• Membership association services
• Professional development training
• Education policy support

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht, Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Sectorraad GO operates as a membership organization representing school boards and schools in specialized education. The primary revenue stream appears to be membership fees from the 826 member schools/locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sectorraad GO is a Dutch non-profit membership organization that represents school boards and schools in specialized education (SBO, SO, and VSO - clusters 3 and 4). It provides government advocacy, knowledge sharing, professional development training, research collaboration, and policy support for its 826 member school locations serving over 100,000 students across the Netherlands.

Product overview

Sectorraad GO operates as an umbrella organization for specialized education in the Netherlands, representing school boards and schools for sbo (special basic education), so (special education), and vso (secondary special education) across more than 800 locations serving approximately 100,000 students. The organization provides a unified platform of services including the Dashboard Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs for data analytics, GOpen for open learning materials development, MDT in het VSO for civic service programs, GO OPP-Trainingen for professional development, and organizes member events including Het GOngres and Het Kennisfestival. The portfolio is structured around thematic areas such as inclusive education, educational quality, teacher shortages, student career guidance, and educational healthcare integration, supported by a helpdesk service and portfolio groups for member collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GOpen: Project in collaboration with Impuls Open Leermateriaal for developing customized learning materials for specialized education
• GO OPP-Trainingen
• MDT in het VSO
• Het GOngres
• Het kennisfestival
• GOngres International 2026

Products and services

• Dashboard Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs
• GOpen
• MDT in het VSO
• GO OPP-Trainingen
• Het GOngres (annual congress)
• Het Kennisfestival
• Rijke Schooldag
• Leerstoel Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs
• Helpdesk Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 locations and 100,000+ students represented
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NufficcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2026Nuffic (Nederlandse organisatie voor internationalisering in onderwijs, onderzoek en wetenschap) is collaborating with Sectorraad GO for the GOngres International 2026. Nuffic provides four sessions showing how internationalization can strengthen education through inspiring practical examples from abroad and concrete tools for practice.
• Impuls Open LeermateriaalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sectorraad Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs and Impuls Open Leermateriaal joined forces for the GOpen project - building custom-made learning materials for all students in specialized education.
• ONSwvcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONSwv participated for the first time in the informal administrative consultation between the Inspectie van het Onderwijs, Ministry of OCW, and Sectorraad GO on inclusive education. Working together on the transition toward inclusive education.
• Jeugdzorg NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Zorg in Onderwijstijd (ZiO) - Care in Education Time initiative, working together with VGN and LBVSO to connect education and youth care.
• VGNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVereniging Gehandicaptenzorg Nederland collaborates on Zorg in Onderwijstijd (ZiO) initiative together with Jeugdzorg Nederland and LBVSO.
• LBVSOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandelijke Belangenvereniging van Ouders van kinderen in het Speciaal Onderwijs collaborates on Zorg in Onderwijstijd (ZiO) together with Jeugdzorg Nederland and VGN.
• YoukémajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFixed care partner of VSO Heuvelrug College, providing youth care services integrated in the school setting. Students often receive support within one week through this partnership.
• Maria José SaragoçaminorOthersInternational keynote speaker from Portugal bringing insights on inclusive education policy and practice from Portugal where inclusive education is firmly anchored in policy and practice.
• Graham DonaldsonminorOthersInternational keynote speaker from Scotland with extensive experience in educational reforms and inclusive education development. Also works for OECD on international assignments.
• B&TminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerB&T is the partner organization providing the Leergang kwaliteitszorg GO (Quality Assurance Learning Program) in collaboration with Sectorraad GO.
• BMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMC is the partner organization for the Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) in het VSO program. Four new team members are active at BMC for the MDT program.
• VIVIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIVIS represents cluster 1 and 2 specialized education, collaborating closely with Sectorraad GO for comprehensive representation of specialized education in the Netherlands.
• SimeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSimea represents cluster 1 and 2 specialized education alongside VIVIS, working in close collaboration with Sectorraad GO for comprehensive representation.
• PO-RaadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary Education Council - collaborating on inclusive education initiatives and joint advocacy efforts.
• VO-raadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary Education Council - collaborating on inclusive education initiatives and joint advocacy efforts.
• Sectorraad ProcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector Council for Practical Education - collaborating on inclusive education and transition to work initiatives.
• OCWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap - regular policy consultations and collaboration on education reforms.
• VWScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinisterie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport - collaboration on Zorg in Onderwijstijd and youth care integration.
• Inspectie van het OnderwijscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular informal administrative consultations on inclusive education, quality assurance, and sector development.
• Steunpunt Passend OnderwijsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on passing legislation, guidelines, and professional development for inclusive education.
• NJiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNederlands Jeugdinstituut - collaboration on youth care and education integration.
• VNGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten - collaboration on student transport, youth care, and municipal partnerships.
• OnderwijsraadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation Council of the Netherlands - advisory collaboration on education policy.
• Ouders & OnderwijsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParents & Education organization - collaboration on parent support and student welfare.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VIVIS: Represents cluster 1 and 2 specialized education in the Netherlands alongside Simea, operating as a sister sector council under the same inclusive-education umbrella. Closest functional peer given the parallel specialized-education mandate.
• PO-Raad: Dutch sector council representing primary education school boards. Comparable as a parallel membership-based sector organization engaging in advocacy, policy support and professional development for member schools, and an explicit collaborator on inclusive-education initiatives.
• VO-raad: Dutch sector council for secondary education school boards. Directly comparable in structure (membership organization for school boards), mandate (representation and policy influence) and government relationships.
• Simea: Sector association for cluster 1 and 2 special education, working in close collaboration with VIVIS and Sectorraad GO to cover the full specialized-education landscape in the Netherlands.
• Sectorraad Pro: Sector council for practical/vocational education (MBO and HBO pathways), directly comparable as a Dutch sector council representing school boards, running member services, and partnering on inclusive-education and transition-to-work agendas.

Emerging players

• Steunpunt Passend Onderwijs: National support center for inclusive/passend onderwijs, collaborating with Sectorraad GO on legislation, guidelines and professional development. Operates in the same inclusive-education policy space but focuses on direct school support rather than representation.
• VGN (Vereniging Gehandicaptenzorg Nederland): Dutch disability-care sector association. Comparable as a sector membership organization and a strategic partner on cross-sector care/education integration (Zorg in Onderwijstijd), but operating in care rather than education.
• LBVSO: National parents' association for special-education families. Adjacent stakeholder with strong influence on the same policy files Sectorraad GO advocates on, and an explicit partner in the Zorg in Onderwijstijd coalition.

Others

• Ouders & Onderwijs: Dutch information and support line for parents on education issues. Adjacent ecosystem participant that complements Sectorraad GO's member-school focus by serving the parent side of the same constituency.
• BMC: Dutch consultancy implementing the MDT in het VSO program alongside Sectorraad GO. Not a peer in advocacy/membership terms, but a delivery partner whose work scales the organization's programmatic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sectorraadgo
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdt.inhetvso

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Sectorraad GO