Today it was announced that Assembly, a venture working to transform the way schools use data, is becoming part of Groupcall.

Assembly, a joint venture between Ark and the Neon Foundation, has been incubated by Ark since it was founded in 2015. By transferring to Groupcall, Assembly has found a widely-respected partner who will support the organisation as it continues to grow.

Assembly has two core services: the Assembly Platform, which integrates school management information systems and other education software; and Assembly Analytics, which offers data analysis software to Multi Academy Trusts (MATs).

Groupcall is a leading provider of data, identity management and communications solutions for schools. It is the UK market leader in parental communication, data integration and analytics services for schools.

The two organisations therefore have complementary businesses, and both will gain knowledge and expertise from the deal.

Prior to joining Groupcall, Assembly had been incubated within Ark Ventures, a home for great ideas that have the potential to improve the lives of children. Ark Ventures is part of Ark, an education charity that also runs a network of 38 high-performing schools in London, Portsmouth, Birmingham and Hastings.

Joshua Perry, Director of Assembly said: “Assembly’s mission is to improve outcomes in schools through better use of data. We have made huge progress and are now working with thousands of schools across the country. By becoming part of the Groupcall family we can draw on their technology, knowhow, and network of over 20,000 schools.

Groupcall share our values and have committed to continue our mission to create a modern data ecosystem, and to share good practice and thought leadership in the effective use of data.”

Richard Grazier, President and Chief Operating Officer of Groupcall, said: “Assembly is a hugely respected organisation and are bringing two proven sets of technology to the Groupcall family. Both their school integration platform and Assembly Analytics are rooted in a keen understanding of the needs and demands of schools and help reinforce Groupcall’s market leadership in each area.

We are very much looking forward to working with the Assembly team, their edtech partners and customers to bring together the wide range of knowledge both companies possess to help drive our products forward and better meet the needs of current and future customers alike. The transaction creates a long-term strategic partnership between Ark and Groupcall which will further support the charitable missions of Ark and Ark Schools in future years.”

Michael Clark, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ark said: “By joining Groupcall, Assembly will be part of an organisation with the resources and expertise to continue to support and expand on its mission. We are really pleased that, as part of this transfer, Ark’s 38 schools will gain access to a full suite of Groupcall’s products to support our strategic technology plan. This will make a real difference to our schools.

The transfer of Assembly is an example of Ark’s success in incubating and scaling ventures that create systemic change in education.”

Groupcall has announced that they will maintain the Assembly brand, and the full Assembly team will transfer to Groupcall through a TUPE process.

Find out more at about Assembly at https://assembly.education/