OBS De Schalm

What OBS De Schalm does

OBS De Schalm is a public primary school (openbare basisschool) located in the Katendrecht district of Rotterdam, Netherlands, operating under the governance of Stichting BOOR (Bestuur Openbaar Onderwijs Rotterdam), the municipal school board for public education in Rotterdam. The school serves approximately 200 children across 8 grade groups (group 1 through group 8, ages 4–12), with a maximum class size of 28 students; waiting lists currently exist for groups 4 and 8. The school employs a small team of approximately 7 staff alongside its teaching faculty and is led by Director Pamela Tjon Appian.

The school differentiates itself through a distinct educational portfolio anchored by its designation as a Cultuurprofielschool (culture profile school), delivering 8 years of performing arts instruction (Podiumkunsten — dance, theater, music, visual arts) via specialist teachers. It also operates a systematic outdoor education program with at least 80 outdoor lessons per school year, supported by dedicated outdoor lesson boxes and furniture, and integrates Buizenpark's green space directly into its curriculum. Teaching methodologies include Expliciete Directe Instructie (EDI), a 9-phase instructional model; Leren Zichtbaar Maken (Visible Learning) based on John Hattie's research; slow teaching; and deep level learning. Supporting programs include Meerwerk/HB for high-ability students, a multi-level zorgstructuur (care structure) for differentiated student support, and structured physical education. Operational tools include WIS Collect for invoicing, SchalmApp (upgraded from Schoolpraat) for parent communication, Gesprekkenplanner for appointment scheduling, and Absentiemelder for absence reporting.

The business model is that of a publicly funded Dutch primary school: core tuition is free under government funding administered through Stichting BOOR, with marginal supplementary revenue from voluntary parent contributions (€40 for first child, €35 for second, €30 for third, annually) used for extras such as Sinterklaas celebrations, Christmas dinner, sports days, and school trips. Additional funding flows via Stichting Vrienden van de Schalm (donations/sponsorships) and municipal programs (Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur, Stichting Meedoen in Rotterdam) that subsidize participation for lower-income families. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The school is currently planning a municipality-mandated relocation to a new facility designed to accommodate 400 students, effectively doubling its current capacity.

Name

OBS De Schalm

Legal name

OBS De Schalm

Website

https://obsdeschalm.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OBS De Schalm is a public primary school in Rotterdam's Katendrecht district serving approximately 200 children ages 4-12 across 8 grade groups. Operating under Stichting BOOR, the school specializes in performing arts education, outdoor learning, and evidence-based teaching methodologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Physical Education & Health Instruction (EDAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Primary education
• Public basisschool
• Outdoor learning
• Performing arts education
• Cultuurprofielschool

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Base primary education is free in the Netherlands, funded by the government. The school operates under Stichting BOOR (Bestuur Openbaar Onderwijs Rotterdam).
2. Voluntary Parent Contribution: Parents pay voluntary contributions for extra activities not funded by government: €40 for 1st child, €35 for 2nd child, €30 for 3rd child. For parents whose children didn't participate in school trips, €25 less is charged.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OBS De Schalm is a public primary school (openbare basisschool) in the Katendrecht district of Rotterdam, Netherlands, serving groups 1-8 (ages 4-12). It delivers government-funded primary education enhanced by specialized programs including Podiumkunsten (performing arts as a cultuurprofielschool), at least 80 outdoor lessons per year, movement education, and evidence-based teaching methodologies such as Expliciete Directe Instructie (EDI) and Visible Learning (Leren Zichtbaar Maken). Basic education is free, with voluntary parent contributions supporting extra activities such as school trips, Sinterklaas celebrations, and sports days.

Product overview

OBS De Schalm is a public primary school (basisschool) in Rotterdam, Katendrecht district, serving groups 1-8. The school operates as a single integrated educational institution rather than a platform architecture. Its core product is comprehensive primary education enhanced by specialized programs including Podiumkunsten (performing arts as a cultuurprofielschool), outdoor lessons (buitenlessen), movement education (bewegingsonderwijs), and evidence-based teaching methodologies such as Expliciete Directe Instructie (EDI), Leren Zichtbaar Maken, slow teaching, and deep level learning. Communication tools include Schoolpraatapp for parent messaging, Gesprekkenplanner for appointment scheduling, and Absentiemelder for absence reporting. Financial administration uses WIS Collect for collecting voluntary parent contributions. Student support is provided through a multi-level zorgstructuur, with specialized meerwerk (HB) for gifted students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OBS De Schalm Primary Education A public primary school (basisschool) in Rotterdam offering education for groups 1-8, with a focus on outdoor lessons, performing arts (Podiumkunsten), movement education, and evidence-based teaching methods including Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) and Visible Learning (Leren Zichtbaar Maken). Targeted at children ages 4-12 and their families.
• Podiumkunsten (Performing Arts) Cultuurprofielschool (culture profile school) program focusing on dance, theater, music, and visual arts, with all students receiving 8 years of instruction from specialist teachers. For children in groups 1-8 and their families.
• Buitenlessen (Outdoor Lessons) Outdoor education program where all subjects are taught outside at least 80 times per school year, utilizing the surrounding green environment. For all enrolled students in groups 1-8.
• Bewegingsonderwijs (Movement Education) Physical education program with students receiving 2 gym lessons of 50 minutes per week from a specialist teacher, including participation in schoolsportvereniging Katendrecht. For all enrolled students.
• Taalonderwijs (Language Education) Comprehensive language program covering technical reading, reading comprehension, spelling, language exploration, and vocabulary, receiving explicitly over 10 hours per week using the Wetenswaardig method. For students in groups 1-8.
• Rekenonderwijs (Mathematics Education) Mathematics education using Samson method for groups 3-4 and Getal en Ruimte for groups 5-8, receiving explicitly over 6 hours per week. For students in groups 3-8.
• Meerwerk (HB) - Gifted Education Enrichment program for high-ability students (at least 20% of students) including compacting, enrichment, level work, and projects. For identified gifted students across the school.
• Zorgstructuur (Care Structure) Multi-level student support structure with 5 levels ranging from basic in-class support to special education referral. For students needing additional academic or developmental support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 years without Education Inspectorate inspection due to maintained quality standards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PPO Rotterdam (Passend Primair Onderwijs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the cooperating body for inclusive primary education in Rotterdam. The school works with PPO for student support, consultations with school contact persons, and referrals for special education (SO/SBO).
• Gemeente Rotterdam Sportbedrijf (Municipality of Rotterdam Sports Department)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipal sports department offers various sports clinics and programs, helping students discover sports not typically accessible. They also support the schoolsportvereniging (school sports association) concept.
• Schoolsportvereniging KatendrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA school sports association developed because no sports clubs existed in the Katendrecht area. Sports clubs provide trainers who give training in the neighborhood, and children become members of the association for structured sports participation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GEMS Education: Global K-12 schools operator with broad curriculum differentiation including performing arts and premium positioning. Comparable as a multi-school group with specialist programming and brand-led enrollment.
• Maple Leaf Educational Systems: Publicly listed operator of K-12 international schools, primarily in China. Comparable as a scaled, branded K-12 schools platform with curriculum differentiation and parent-facing brand.
• British Schools Foundation: Operator of British-style international schools across Europe and beyond. Comparable as a multi-site K-12 schools group targeting local families with an internationalized curriculum.
• Cognita: International K-12 schools group operating branded schools across multiple geographies. Comparable as an institutional operator of K-12 schools with defined curricula and parent-communication infrastructure.
• Nord Anglia Education: Large global K-12 premium schools group. Comparable as an operator of full K-12 schools with differentiated curricula and strong parent-facing brands, though operating a private/fee-paying model versus De Schalm's public funding model.

Others

• Stichting BOOR: Governing body that operates OBS De Schalm and a portfolio of other public primary and secondary schools across Rotterdam. Comparable as the parent ecosystem and as the operator of peer basisscholen with similar funding and regulatory conditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/obsdeschalm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/obs-de-schalm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 OBS De Schalm