Praktijkschool De Wissel

What Praktijkschool De Wissel does

Praktijkschool De Wissel is a publicly funded Dutch practical school (praktijkschool) located at Bergweg 8, 4461 NB Goes, in the Zeeland province of the Netherlands. It serves approximately 131 students aged roughly 12-18 with mild intellectual disabilities (IQ 55-80) and learning delays of three or more years, with a hard capacity of 156 students in coach groups of 16 (lower school) and 20 (upper school). The school operates as a subsidiary of the Ozeo organization for specialist education and is a member of the Zeeuwse Stichting Maatwerk (ZSM) network of practical and special secondary schools in Zeeland.

The school's core educational approach is the Big Picture Learning (BPL) methodology, built on 11 defined characteristics that emphasize student-centered, passion-based learning through personal learning plans (PLP), fixed coach groups for continuity, portfolio-based assessment, and three annual presentation weeks. The product portfolio combines classroom-based vocational subjects (Koken, Groen, Hout, Metaal, Ouderenzorg, Kinderzorg, Haarverzorging, Digiwijs) with a phased Stage en Meeloopdagen (internship) program that progresses students from observation days to an exit phase with more work than school attendance. A multi-tiered zorgstructuur (support system) includes coaches, an orthopedagogue, a school social worker, a zorgcoördinator, behavioral scientists, and a monthly Counseling Commission (CvB) operating alongside the Centrum Jeugd en Gezin (CJG).

The business model is that of a non-commercial, publicly funded educational institution. There are no tuition fees; revenue is sourced from Dutch government education funding and supplemented by an Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF+) subsidy used since October 2014 for student transition-to-work activities. Distribution is direct-to-parent, with enrollment requiring a formal toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (TLV) admission certificate from the cooperation association's Support Assignment Commission (CTO). Mutually beneficial PRO-VMBO and PRO-MBO collaborations with Pontes (Goese Lyceum) and Scalda extend the educational pathway into vocational secondary and MBO tracks. The school is led by Director Sander Vlieland with a small operational team of approximately 11 staff including two conciërges, administrative support, two team leaders, and educational support specialists.

Name

Praktijkschool De Wissel

Legal name

Praktijkschool De Wissel

Website

https://prodewissel.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Praktijkschool De Wissel is a publicly funded Dutch practical school in Goes, Zeeland, serving approximately 131 students aged 12-18 with mild intellectual disabilities via the Big Picture Learning methodology, vocational subjects, and phased internships, operating under the Ozeo specialist education organization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education (Praktijkonderwijs)

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAAAG

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Special Education Schools & Programs

SECONDARYEDAKANAF

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAKANAC

Vocational Evaluation & Career Assessment (Transition-Age)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAGAMAJ

Functional Life Skills & Transition-to-Adulthood Curriculum (ADL, Vocational, Community)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Instructional Materials for Special Education

SECONDARYEDAAAFAN

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Practical vocational education
• Special needs secondary school
• Big Picture Learning
• Work-based learning program
• Personalized learning plans

Headquarters

HQ city

Goes

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Praktijkschool De Wissel is a Dutch practical secondary school (praktijkonderwijs) in Goes, Zeeland, providing vocational and life-skills education to approximately 131 students aged 12-18 with IQ 55-80 and learning delays of three or more years. It delivers personalized learning through the Big Picture Learning (BPL) methodology, sixteen-plus vocational subjects, structured internships, and portfolio-based assessment, preparing students for work, further MBO study, sheltered employment, or day care.

Product overview

Praktijkschool De Wissel is a vocational practical school operating as part of the Ozeo organization for specialized education in Zeeland, Netherlands. The school implements Big Picture Learning (BPL) as its core educational philosophy, offering personalized learning plans and real-world work experience. The product portfolio centers on practical vocational education with 16+ subjects spanning cooking, horticulture, woodworking, metalwork, elderly/child care, and digital skills. Students progress through a phased program combining classroom learning with increasingly extensive internships. Three annual presentation weeks showcase student achievements through portfolios. The school provides a comprehensive multi-tiered support structure including coaches, behavioral scientists, and a Counseling Commission. The school serves approximately 131 students with IQ between 55-80 who have learning delays of three or more years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Picture Learning (BPL) Onderwijsmethodiek A personalized education philosophy based on 11 principles, where students work from individual learning plans (PLP), learn in real-world settings through internships, and are assessed on meaningful personal results rather than standardized tests. Designed for students aged 12-18 with mild intellectual disabilities (IQ 55-80) and learning delays.
• Praktijkvakken (Beroepsgerichte Vakken) Vocational practical subjects including Koken (Cooking), Groen (Green/Horticulture), Hout (Woodworking), Metaal (Metalwork), Ouderenzorg (Elderly Care), Kinderzorg (Child Care), Haarverzorging (Hairdressing), and Digiwijs (Digital Skills), allowing students to develop practical skills aligned with their passions.
• Stage en Meeloopdagen Programma Phased work-based learning program: Phase 1 includes observation days, Phase 2 requires minimum 1 day per week internship, Phase 3 increases internship days, and the exit phase involves more work than school attendance.
• Presentatieweken Three annual presentation weeks where students demonstrate their learning achievements to parents, fellow students, and teachers, presenting portfolio evidence and reflecting on their learning process and goals for the next period.
• Zorgstructuur (Student Support System) Multi-tiered support system including coaches, psychological assistants, school social workers, care coordinators, behavioral scientists, and a Counseling Commission (CvB) that meets monthly to discuss students needing additional support.
• Aanmeldprocedure Praktijkonderwijs Structured 11-step admission process including screening, orientation visits, SCICA assessments, social anamnesis, and TLV (admission certificate) application through the Support Assignment Commission (CTO).

Quantifiable outcome

• Students prepare for employment, further education (MBO), sheltered work, or day care programs

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF+)coreOthers · 1 October 2014European Social Fund subsidy used for activities to optimally support students' transition to work or further education.
• Zeeuwse Stichting Maatwerk (ZSM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2011Network of practical schools and special secondary education in Zeeland. Enables cross-school use of certificate programs and trajectories. Funded by Province of Zeeland and municipalities.
• Pontes (Goese Lyceum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRO-VMBO collaboration: students follow lessons at both De Wissel and Goese Lyceum at the Bergweg location. Joint educational programs for integrated learning.
• ScaldacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRO-MBO collaboration: students follow lessons at both De Wissel and Scalda vocational school for integrated practical and theoretical education.
• De SprienkeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents who may attend De Wissel come for trial sessions to experience the school environment before enrollment.
• DeltaschoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents who may attend De Wissel come for trial sessions to experience the school environment before enrollment.
• Centrum Jeugd en Gezin (CJG)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly Zorg- en AdviesTeam (ZAT) meetings including school doctor, attendance officer, and CJG colleague to support student wellbeing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Scalda: Regional MBO (vocational) college in Zeeland running the PRO-MBO track with De Wissel. Comparable as a vocational training provider serving the same regional student population, although at a higher educational level.
• Big Picture Learning: The international developer of the Big Picture Learning methodology that De Wissel has adopted. Comparable as the originator of the pedagogical framework being deployed, with affiliate schools globally following the same BPL principles.
• Pontes Scholengroep / Goese Lyceum: General secondary education provider in Zeeland running the PRO-VMBO track in collaboration with De Wissel. Comparable for serving Zeeland students with pathways toward vocational education, with overlapping student cohorts.
• Zeeuwse Stichting Maatwerk (ZSM): The umbrella network of praktijkscholen and voortgezet speciaal onderwijs schools in Zeeland. ZSM coordinates curriculum and certificate portability across member schools, making it a broader institutional counterpart to a single school like De Wissel.

Others

• Stichting Praktijkonderwijs Nederland: National sector association representing praktijkscholen across the Netherlands. Industry-wide counterpart for understanding De Wissel's broader market and policy context, though not a direct competitor.
• Centrum Jeugd en Gezin (CJG): Regional youth and family support organisation that participates in De Wissel's monthly ZAT (Zorg- en Adviesteam) meetings. Comparable as a co-located care partner serving the same vulnerable youth population in Zeeland.

Direct peers

• Praktijkschool De Sprienke: A neighbouring praktijkschool in Zeeland and a ZSM network member. De Sprienke serves the same learner population (IQ 55-80) and is identified as a pre-enrollment trial partner for De Wissel, making it a direct operational and curricular peer.
• De Regenboog / De Wingerd (Ozeo): Sister schools under the same Ozeo parent organisation for specialist education in Zeeland. Operating under the same governance and adjacent special education missions, they are immediately comparable to De Wissel.
• Deltaschool Middelburg: Another Zeeland praktijkschool referenced by De Wissel as a trial-session feeder. Deltaschool serves the same praktijkonderwijs mandate within the ZSM network, offering directly comparable programs and student outcomes.

Regional players

• Praktijkschool Het Metrum: A praktijkschool operating outside Zeeland, providing a reference point for how Praktijkonderwijs institutions operate in other Dutch regions. Useful for benchmarking programme design and outcomes beyond the Zeeland micro-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/praktijkschool-de-wissel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Praktijkschool De Wissel