Sarkon

What Sarkon does

Stichting Sarkon is a Dutch non-profit primary education foundation (Stichting) headquartered in Den Helder, Netherlands, that operated 19 primary schools serving approximately 4,000 children in the Kop van Noord-Holland region with nearly 500 employees prior to its January 1, 2026 merger with Surplus. The merged entity, NAVAN, now operates 42 schools serving nearly 8,000 children with over 1,000 staff, making it the largest primary education provider in the region. Sarkon's educational model is anchored in its proprietary "Leren met LEV" (Learning with Heart) philosophy, a values-based, Catholic-rooted pedagogical framework that integrates Visible Learning (John Hattie), The Leader in Me (Stephen Covey's 7 Habits), growth mindset, and play-based learning. The organization delivers education through Kindcentra integrated with childcare partners (Monter Kinderopvang, Kappio, SKDH), and operates specialized facilities including the first regional TECHpoint technical education lab at De Hofstee in Julianadorp and a Green Schoolyard-certified outdoor learning environment.

Sarkon's revenue model is fundamentally different from a commercial enterprise: as a publicly funded primary education provider under Dutch law, it does not charge tuition. Operations are financed through government (overheid) lumpsum funding that covers teacher salaries, school operations, and educational programs — effectively a recurring public-sector revenue stream with very high revenue predictability. Ancillary value flows include structured paid internships (stagevergoeding for PABO students from February 2024 and MBO students from August 2025) and lateral entry programs, which function as talent-pipeline investments rather than revenue sources. Distribution is purely direct: families enroll children at one of the regional schools, with no channel intermediaries, freemium tiers, or transactional pricing.

The technology stack is operationally standard rather than differentiating — AFAS Insite for HR, ESIS for student administration, E-WISE for online professional development, and Ziber for school websites — with no proprietary platform, no API, no app, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed. The go-to-market is community-led: enrollment flows through the regional school system, reputation, and partnerships with local childcare providers. Effective January 1, 2026, Sarkon ceased to exist as an independent entity following its merger with Surplus into NAVAN, ending Sarkon's standalone ownership and operating identity.

Name

Sarkon

Legal name

Stichting Sarkon

Website

https://www.sarkon.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Acquired

Short description

Sarkon is a Dutch non-profit primary education foundation that operated 19 schools serving ~4,000 children in the Kop van Noord-Holland region under a values-based "Leren met LEV" pedagogy, publicly funded by the Dutch government, and effective January 1, 2026 merged with Surplus into NAVAN (42 schools, ~8,000 children).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Primary education services
• School foundation operations
• Teacher training programs
• Inclusive primary education
• Integrated childcare centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Helder

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a primary education foundation in the Netherlands, Sarkon is primarily funded through government (overheid) funding for primary education. This is standard recurrent public funding for school operations, teacher salaries, and educational programs.
2. Stage Vergoeding (Internship Compensation): Sarkon provides internship compensation (stagevergoeding) to student teachers (PABO students without an existing Sarkon contract) starting February 1, 2024, and to MBO students starting August 1, 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stichting Sarkon is a non-profit primary education foundation that operates schools in the Kop van Noord-Holland region of the Netherlands. The organization delivers primary education services to children aged 4-12, complemented by integrated Kindcentra combining childcare and primary education, orthopedagogical support through the Orthoteam, technical education via the TECHpoint facility, and a range of teacher development and lateral-entry training programs. As of January 1, 2026, Sarkon merged with Surplus to form NAVAN, combining 42 schools serving nearly 8,000 children with over 1,000 staff members.

Product overview

Sarkon is a foundation operating 19 primary schools (pre-merger figure; as of January 2026 merged with Surplus to form NAVAN, with 42 schools) in the Kop van Noord-Holland, serving approximately 4,000–8,000 children with nearly 500–1,000+ staff. The portfolio includes core primary education services (NAVAN Scholen), a values-based educational vision (Leren met LEV), structured internship and lateral-entry teacher programs, a training center offering professional development (including the Expert Gedrag program), specialized child centers (Kindcentra), and a regional network of technical education facilities (TECHpoint). Annual publications (Sarkon Magazine), an orthopedagogical support team (Orthoteam), and an internal training center round out the offering. The organization operates under the principle of 'Leren met LEV' (learning with heart for each other) and integrates The Leader in Me methodology across its schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NAVAN: As of January 1, 2026, Surplus and Sarkon merged to form NAVAN, a unified primary education organization serving the Kop van Noord-Holland region with 42 schools, approximately 8,000 children, and over 1,000 employees.

Products and services

• NAVAN Scholen (Primary Schools) Primary education services delivered across a network of 42 schools in the Kop van Noord-Holland region, serving children aged 4-12 with a values-based pedagogical approach (Leren met LEV). Operates under publicly funded Dutch primary education model with no tuition charged to families.
• Stageprogramma Sarkon (LIO / Stagiaires Internship Program) Structured internship program offering supervised placements for PABO (teacher training) students, MBO students, and LIO (leraren-in-opleiding) candidates with personal mentoring by experienced teachers and school trainers. Includes internship compensation (stagevergoeding). Targets prospective teachers seeking practical training at primary schools.
• Sarkon Trainingscentrum (Internal Training Center) Internal professional development center offering specialized training tracks for Sarkon staff, including the Expert Gedrag (Behavior Expert) postgraduate program in partnership with Hogeschool Utrecht, Specialist Jonge Kind training, and the Schoolleidersopleiding (school leadership training). Supports inclusive education and inclusive practice across the region's schools.
• Zij-instroomprogramma (Career Changer Program) Program enabling individuals with an HBO or university degree from other fields to transition into primary education as lateral entrants (zij-instromers), combining paid teaching positions with a structured professional development trajectory within the Sarkon/NAVAN foundation.
• Orthoteam (Orthopedagogical Support Services)

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 new Experts Gedrag trained through the Leergang Expert Gedrag, supporting inclusive education goals across the region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• SurpluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurplus and Sarkon merged effective January 1, 2026 to form NAVAN, a combined primary education organization with 42 schools and nearly 8,000 children. The merger was driven by shared educational challenges including inclusive education, small schools, and teacher shortages in the region.
• KopwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKopwerk collaborated with Surplus and Sarkon to train new MR (Mediationsraad/Parent Council) members, demonstrating a three-way educational partnership in the Noordkop region for strengthening parent participation in school governance.
• Samenwerkingsverband Kop van Noord-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe educational consortium (SWV) funded and enabled the Leergang Expert Gedrag program, with the ambition to have a behavior expert (Expert Gedrag) at every school. The first cohort of 23 professionals graduated in December 2025.
• Hogeschool UtrechtmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered the Expert Gedrag (Behavior Expert) postgraduate program (Leergang 1 Expert Gedrag) through instructors Sarah Torenstra and Hans van der Horst, building specialized behavior expertise across the region's schools.
• Hogeschool IPABOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary teacher training institution partnered with De Windwijzer (an opleidingsschool/training school). IPABO students complete internships at Sarkon schools, with experienced mentors and school trainers providing guidance.
• VONKsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMBO student placement organization that places vocational education students (for educational assistant roles) at Sarkon schools as part of their practical training.
• HorizoncollegesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional ROC (MBO) institution collaborating with Sarkon for student placements as educational assistants and teacher supporters at Sarkon schools.
• Monter KinderopvangmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChildcare provider that opened a toddler play and learning group (peuterspeel- en leergroep) within Sarkon school De Kameleon in Julianadorp starting January 6, 2025, creating an integrated child center (kindcentrum) supporting the 0-12 development pathway.
• Stichting SpringzaadsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation that awards the 'Vignet Groene Schoolpleinen' (Green Schoolyard Vignette). De Windwijzer and De Verrekijker received this certification for their sustainable, biodiverse schoolyard — the first in Den Helder.
• KappiosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChildcare organization active in the brede school (broad school) network, sharing facilities and programming with Sarkon schools.
• SKDH (Stichting Kinderopvang Den Helder)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDen Helder childcare foundation using shared facilities at brede school De Poolster alongside De Windwijzer and De Verrekijker, including after-school care on the green schoolyard.
• Zeestad-staalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal steel company partnering with Sarkon schools to promote technical education. Supported the establishment of Tekpark and contributes to engineering and technology programs for students.
• Marine (Netherlands)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch Navy/Marine provided support for the establishment of the TECHpoint technical education lab at De Hofstee in Julianadorp, contributing to regional technical education initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stichting BOOR: Major Rotterdam-based primary education foundation serving tens of thousands of children. Comparable governance and operational model at substantially larger scale in an urban setting.
• Stichting De Haagse Scholen: Large primary education foundation serving The Hague with a comparable publicly funded multi-school stichting model and similar focus on inclusive education in a diverse urban context.

Direct peers

• Surplus: Dutch primary education foundation that was Sarkon's direct peer in the Kop van Noord-Holland region. Merged with Sarkon effective January 1, 2026 to form NAVAN, making them the most direct comparator prior to the merger.

Regional players

• Blosse: Primary education foundation operating in the Gooi en Vechtstreek region. Co-organized the John Hattie masterclass with Sarkon and Surplus, indicating direct peer engagement on Visible Learning adoption.
• MOVARE: Large primary education foundation in Limburg. Comparable as a multi-school publicly funded primary education foundation operating under a similar stichting governance model.
• Innoord: Primary education foundation for Amsterdam and Diemen region. Comparable publicly funded multi-school primary education foundation operating under Dutch stichting governance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Sarkon