Co-operation Amstelwijs and Onderwijsgroep Amstelland

School boards Amstelwijs and Onderwijsgroep Amstelland are going to work together. This collaboration stems from our common goal: to provide good education in a stable organization in which involvement with students, parents and employees is central.

This page contains information about that collaboration. We are happy to take you through the steps that have been taken and the steps that are still to come. We therefore regularly update this page with new information.

FAQ

The school year is in full swing and a lot has happened behind the scenes in the past period regarding the investigation into the proposed administrative merger between the Amstelwijs foundation and Onderwijsgroep Amstelland.

Where are we now?

The investigation led to a declaration of intent for a merger, after which we had a merger impact assessment drawn up. In an additional document, all effects, risks and intended goals are described in detail. On the basis of these documents, internal discussions were held with the entire staff, directors, joint participation councils (GMR) and the supervisory boards. Based on these discussions, both boards have drawn up a proposed merger decision in a merger proposal.

In October 2025, both joint participation councils (GMR) gave their consent to the merger proposal, followed by approval from the supervisory boards of both foundations. This successfully completed the internal decision-making.

We have now arrived at the phase of external decision-making. This means that:

  • the proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval;
  • The municipal council decides on the amended statutes, which include the equivalence of public and private education.

This phase will continue until the beginning of 2026. The official merger date is scheduled for 1 January 2027.

The world around us is changing and so is education. By joining forces in one administrative organization, we want to ensure that good, accessible and diverse education for every child in our region is guaranteed in the future.

A merger offers us the opportunity to, among other things:

  • use resources and expertise more efficiently;
  • respond better to student shrinkage in certain areas;
  • strengthening knowledge sharing and cooperation between schools;
  • continue to invest jointly in good staff, innovative teaching materials and educational quality.

Our common goal is clear: to provide good education in a stable organization in which involvement with students, parents and employees is central.

  • The school of your child(ren) remains as it is.
  • The character of the school is preserved: public remains public, special remains special.
  • Participation at school level will continue to exist, with a joint GMR for the new board.
  • No one will lose their jobs because of this merger.

However, the process may have implications for systems or workflows, for example in the area of ICT. These changes are carefully prepared and managed, with attention to practicality and support.

Room for improvement and innovation

The merger offers opportunities to continue to invest in good education together. Think of:

  • joint training pathways for teachers;
  • better educational support;
  • space for educational innovation, such as new digital resources or contemporary learning environments.

Economies of scale allow us to use available resources more effectively, without losing sight of the human dimension or the unique identity of each school.

Diligence first

We realize that a merger not only brings opportunities, but also raises questions. That is why we take the time to go through this process step by step and with care. The differences in working methods and culture between schools are recognized and receive the necessary attention.

The amended statutes also stipulate that freedom of choice for parents is maintained and that both forms of education (public and private) are equally represented.

Until the official merger, work will be done on the further design of the new organization. Think of harmonization of (ICT) systems, personnel policy and the establishment of a joint quality framework. For parents, this can eventually become visible via, for example, a new school email address.

For parents, this can eventually become visible via, for example, a new school email address. The GMR, Supervisory Board and other partners are actively involved in this. We will also continue to monitor how the merger is experienced through satisfaction surveys and conversations with parents and colleagues.

Finally

We will of course continue to inform you regularly about the progress. Do you have any questions? Then you can always contact the director of the school. We hope for your continued trust and commitment to this process, which ultimately aims to provide the best possible education for all children.

Do you have any questions?

Please contact: communicatie@ogamstelland.nl or communicatie@amstelwijs.nl.