Millions of Questions (and Answers!)
During the 2024–2025 school year, Squla and StudyGo were used extensively. In total, children answered more than 306 million questions. Altogether, they practised the equivalent of 525 years’ worth of learning time. On both Squla and StudyGo, maths was the most practised subject. Among the languages on StudyGo, French was the most studied.
Education for Everyone
At Futurewhiz, we believe that learning should be accessible to every child. That’s why 226,790 children were able to use Squla for free during school hours, and another 9,319 children accessed Squla and StudyGo at home via foundations such as Stichting Leergeld and Jeugdeducatiefonds.
“Our role is to guide children and families every step of the way, offering the right support at the right moment. This year, over 950,000 children used our platforms. Many of them free of charge through schools and partnerships that ensure access for families facing financial barriers. These numbers matter, but what matters even more is the confidence we help build and the joy of learning we bring into children’s lives”, says Jeroen Munk, CEO of Futurewhiz.
We also think of all children during the summer holidays. Through the Zomerpret campaign by Stichting Kinderhulp, 7,500 children will receive a cheerful bag of summer goodies – including a Squla colouring book.
AI in Education
We made major strides in AI this past school year. On StudyGo, alongside our chat with real tutors, we developed and improved an AI-powered chat to help students better understand their schoolwork at any time of day. This year, more than 31,000 chats took place. We’re also using AI to create personalised learning paths based on topics a student finds challenging or has already mastered. Our step-by-step instructions on Squla for years 6 to 8 are also supported by AI technology.
“Over the past school year, we’ve seen what’s possible when we combine the deep expertise of our people with the best of AI. It enables us to support more children in a personalised way, accelerating our mission to empower every child to grow. Learning is evolving, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that change. AI holds great promise for supporting children in more personalised ways, and we’re already seeing its positive impact on their learning journeys”, explains Jeroen. He adds to it: “With this opportunity comes responsibility. We remain committed to the highest standards of privacy, security, and transparency.”
A Year Full of Impact!
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together. As a team, with our partners, and with the families who place their trust in us”, says Jeroen. “This report re flects the progress we’ve made, the lessons we’ve learned, and the strong foundation we’re laying for the future of learning.” You can read the full Futurewhiz impact report here.
Do you have any questions or want to learn more? Feel free to get in touch with Lisa Potma via lisa@futurewhiz.com
Students Embrace AI Faster Than Schools
The survey provides a unique perspective, as it reflects the voices of students themselves – complementing De Staat van het Onderwijs 2025 (The State of Education), a report published by De Onderwijsinspectie (the Dutch Inspectorate of Education) in April. That report highlighted that many schools are struggling to integrate digital skills into the curriculum, with significant disparities between schools and students in terms of digital literacy.
Meanwhile, students’ use of AI is rising rapidly. The Futurewhiz survey confirms this trend: 77% of students use AI tools for school assignments, with one in three doing so on a weekly basis. This shows that students are adopting AI far more quickly than schools. Many educational institutions are failing to provide adequate guidance: nearly two-thirds of secondary school students receive no instruction on how to use AI, and 58% are not taught how to use it safely. At the same time, 83% of respondents believe that AI and digital tools actually help them to learn better.
Mental Health: Urgent but Overlooked
The student survey also adds important nuance to the findings of De Onderwijsinspectie on mental health. Academic pressure, a lack of trusted adults to confide in, and difficult home situations are undermining the resilience of many young people. Although 71% of students report generally feeling mentally well, half experience stress due to schoolwork, with girls particularly affected. More than a third (36%) feel that mental health is insufficiently addressed at school, while 38% say they do not feel safe enough to talk about it. Students facing challenges at home are especially vulnerable to mental health issues and tend to feel greater performance pressure.
Equal Opportunities and Ongoing Challenges
For many of the students surveyed by Futurewhiz, equal opportunity is an issue that exists more in the background. According to De Staat van het Onderwijs, inequality of opportunity remains a persistent problem. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those with a migrant background structurally face fewer opportunities. Financial stress at home and school-related expenses make it even harder for these students, often resulting in learning delays and increased dropout rates.
While 85% of students in the Futurewhiz survey say they feel treated equally at school, some still face barriers. Thirteen percent worry about costs related to education, such as private tutoring, school trips or buying a laptop. The same percentage report that their home situation negatively affects their school performance. Equal treatment, then, does not automatically result in equal opportunities – especially when circumstances outside of school hinder students’ development.
Key Concerns: AI and Mental Health in Secondary Education
The student survey highlights that students especially experience difficulties in the areas of AI and mental wellbeing. The findings echo the concerns of the De Onderwijsinspectie, which urges schools and policymakers to take action. Addressing these issues also helps to improve access to educational opportunities and promotes greater equality.
Futurewhiz is calling on schools and teachers to work alongside students to develop a curriculum that prepares young people for the world of tomorrow. Digital literacy is essential: without sufficient support, students risk falling behind in an increasingly digital society.
“Students are not just recipients of education – they are vital partners in shaping it,” says Jeroen Munk, CEO of Futurewhiz. “Because we engage with students every day, we understand what matters to them – and where the education system still has blind spots, such as support with AI and digital skills. By placing their voice at the centre, we can make education more relevant, inclusive, and future-proof.”
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About the Survey
The survey was conducted in May 2025 by Futurewhiz, the company behind Squla and StudyGo. A total of 2,053 secondary school students completed an online questionnaire via the StudyGo practice platform. The questionnaire was developed in response to De Staat van het Onderwijs 2025 and gauges students’ own views on their school experience and the quality of education provided. The sample included a diverse mix of ages, educational tracks (vmbo, havo, vwo), and backgrounds. Of the participants, 64% identified as female and 32% as male.
About Futurewhiz
Futurewhiz is the company behind Squla and StudyGo – digital learning platforms used daily by over a million children, students, teachers, and parents. Futurewhiz believes that every child should have the chance to reach their full potential, regardless of background or ability. By harnessing technology to deliver personalised and motivating education, Futurewhiz contributes to better learning outcomes for all children. Want to learn more about Futurewhiz’s impact? Read the 2024–2025 Impact Report here.
The B Corp certification is an initiative by B Lab, a non profit organisation that helps businesses reach high standards in terms of environmental and societal impact. At the same time, it is a movement that strives for an inclusive, righteous, and sustainable world. B Lab guides businesses in measuring and improving their impact with an extensive rating system. Obtaining this quality mark is a long process. For Futurewhiz, the recertification took over 20 months!
The certification is awarded after a comprehensive assessment process, in which the Impact Assessment evaluates companies in five areas:
- Governance: Assessment of mission, ethics, transparency, and engagement.
- Workers: Evaluation of employee well-being and development.
- Community: Assessment of involvement with communities, such as poverty alleviation and donations.
- Environment: Analysis of environmental impact.
- Customers: Assessment of care for customers and the impact of products or services.
In 2020 we reached 81.1 points, this year the score improved to 87.9 points. We are excited about receiving this certification again and we will continue to strive for a positive impact within our company and for society!
Do you want to know more about the impact of Futurewhiz? Check out the Impact Report of school year 2024-2025 here.
Elise Drost (left) en Ellen Mertens (right), to be seen at the Weteringschans in Amsterdam.
Although working in tech was not directly what they aspired to as girls, Ellen and Elise are in the right place in the edtech industry. In the case of Futurewhiz, tech is mainly the means to carry out the mission: Empowering every child to grow through personalized education. “What I love is that we make tutoring more accessible with our learning platforms Squla and StudyGo,” Ellen explains. “We are reaching children who would otherwise not have access to supplementary education.”
Elise’s children used Squla and that’s how she came across the company. “As a mother of three sons, I want to contribute to a better world for them. With our educational apps, we make learning fun and accessible. Equal opportunities are important to me: for women, but it starts with children. When someone asks me where I work, I proudly tell them about it. This is because of the strong brands we have built but also because of the impact we make on children. I hope we can make children experience how much fun learning is.”
Both women underline how fundamental representation is. “It is as the Equals campaign slogan says: ‘you can’t be what you can’t see,’” mentions Elise. “If there’s never a woman in management or working in tech, it’s harder to imagine yourself there.”
Still, there are obstacles women themselves have to overcome. “Women are often risk-averse, while men are already applying for jobs at 40 per cent of qualifications,” says Elise. “We need to break through that.” Ellen stresses, “You have to speak up if you want something. And don’t be afraid, just go and do it!”
In addition, role distribution at home is a big factor. “It is important that men contribute as much to family management as women do,” Elise notes. “We still have a long way to go, but I already see positive changes. While women are working more and more, they are also doing most of the caring and household tasks. That is not equality.”
A supportive corporate culture is crucial for growth. “At Futurewhiz, it’s all about learning – ‘Learning is Everything’. We have a learning budget and encourage personal development,” Ellen explains. “In addition, with talent we don’t only look at what someone can already do, but also at what is possible. Can we create a new role? Can we retain someone by offering opportunities?” She speaks from experience: “I came here with no management experience, but the CEO saw potential in me and gave me the chance. You have to seize opportunities like that.”
Elise notes, “The difference is in the culture. We work together, you can be yourself here and making mistakes is OK. Sometimes something succeeds, sometimes not, and then we learn from it. Besides, I think it’s really unique that everyone here is so playful and competitive. You can also see that in our products. And internally: the company value ‘Fun Works’ is really lived here.”
Ellen has a clear message for young talent: “Speak up! You are more likely to get opportunities if you show that you want something. And know that you yourself are the key to your own success.” Elise adds, “You can have it all – a career, a family (or other fulfillment of your private life that makes you happy), as well as fun. But you have to do it yourself.”
They also stress that a managerial role is not the only path. “Experts are just as important as managers,” says Ellen. “It’s about doing something you are proud of and making an impact.”
What they hope for the future? Ellen: “In 20 years, my daughters will earn as much as your sons.” Elise adds: “And my sons will contribute as much to the household as your daughters.” They hope that initiatives like this role model campaign will then be something of the past.
They also call for structural changes, such as better childcare and fair salaries. “Strong economic countries, such as countries in Scandinavia, have invested in good childcare and equality, and they are reaping the benefits,” says Elise. “When women are economically stronger, the whole society benefits.”
With women like Ellen and Elise in the lead, an equal future is coming ever closer. Their story proves: if you dare to dream and seize opportunities, anything is possible – you are in control!
First of all, what is JINC? JINC is an organisation that believes that every child has potential – also the hundreds of thousands of Dutch children who grow up in a disadvantaged socio-economic environment. That is why JINC strives for a society in which your background does not determine your future. To achieve this, they help children aged 8-16 get a better start in the labour market. The JINC program teaches them how to apply for jobs, introduces them to different professions and helps them discover which work suits their capabilities and talents. During the show, founder and director Daniël Roos explained that JINC aims to empower talent in three different ways: by scale, effectiveness, and long term impact. JINC should be fun, but it should also work and succeed in its mission to provide better opportunities for young people in the labour market. And JINC is definitely succeeding: they keep growing and have future plans to be active abroad as well.
Squla has been a partner of JINC since 2017, and our colleagues have actively been participating in various projects throughout this time. This includes internships that have been organized at the office, job application trainings, career coaching from our colleagues, and language trips. Not only is it a great opportunity for children, it’s also amazing for us to see how much we can learn from them and enjoy their fresh perspectives. More importantly, they learn from each other, work together and form meaningful bonds.
Since JINC is all about children but the nominees were adults, of course some young spirit was very much needed in the show and the judging team 😉. The show kicked off with a spectacular dance performance by ‘Solid Ground movement’, a dance team from Amsterdam Noord. Then, the following award categories were introduced: ‘Newcomer of the Year’, ‘Volunteer of the Year’, ‘Company of the Year’, ‘Internship of the Year’ and ‘School of the Year’. Together with companies Bearing Point, Accenture, De Schepper Campagnes and Cushman & Wakefield, Squla was nominated for the ‘Company of the Year’ category. Each nominated party was allowed on stage, and after a short introduction it was up to the 5-member jury of primary school Samenspel to make a choice. After a long 5 minutes the final verdict was there: 3 out of 5 votes went to Squla! 🎉
We are very proud and grateful for this beautiful award and look forward to many more years of collaboration with JINC!
The boss of WRTS for one day
Today Chantal experiences what it is like to take over WRTS for one day. She thinks about how we can make WRTS even better. Tijntje: “WRTS is a platform for high school students to practice and get explanations for school subjects for which they have a test soon. Who better to know the requirements for a platform like that than someone that age? Chantal is also going to take her final exams next year and that is perfect for us. Because just like Chantal, we will also be taking our final exams next year. And we could really use some help with that.”
Equal opportunities for everyone
With Boss of Tomorrow, WRTS and JINC want to combat inequality of opportunity. In the Netherlands, hundreds of thousands of children grow up in an environment with a lot of socio-economic disadvantage. All these children have dreams and talents, but their zip code and social environment are often obstacles on their road to success. Those who grow up in an environment with few role models or opportunities unfortunately have fewer prospects for career success than peers from “wealthier” neighborhoods. Regardless of how smart or talented the children are.
Tijntje says: “In the Netherlands we can all get a good education. And that is necessary. Because we need all the talent there is to make our country ready for the future. We are training the future leaders now. And we as a company help with that with our platforms, but also inspire all students who want to work with the different jobs they could do in the future. We do this by working a lot with JINC through lightning internships, career coaching and Boss of Tomorrow. Every child has talent, and with every talent comes a suitable career. Some children do not know the different options for further learning. By opening up our company to these children, we want to inspire them to find their own talents and also see what they can do with them in the future.”
- Squla joins worldwide network organizations that want to make a social impact.
- The certification was preceded by an extensive “B Impact Assessment” of several months.
- Certificate “B Corporation” recognition mission to provide all children with equal opportunities for quality education.
“B Corporations” are organizations that succeed in creating a good balance between “purpose” and “profit”. They are organizations that not only strive for profitability, but also take people, the environment and society as a starting point in their activities. Although more and more companies and organizations are aware of the need for this and want to be certified by B Corp, obtaining the certificate is certainly not easy. The “B Corporation” certificate is only awarded if at least 80 of the 200 points have been obtained in the “B Impact Assessment”: a way to measure the sustainable and social impact of an organization. In addition to their social mission, the activities and culture of organizations are examined on the basis of dozens of (social) factors, such as the business model, processes that facilitate social ways of thinking and the way in which sustainability is embedded in work processes.
Caroline Henneman, the Head of Marketing & Growth at Squla, guided this assessment from start to finish. “We are very proud to receive this certificate, which is a special milestone for Squla. Since our foundation, it has been our mission to help every child progress through play and this certification is a crown on our work. Moreover, obtaining a B Corp certificate is no easy task. It is preceded by an extensive process that takes several months. During this certification, our organization was screened at all levels. Squla passed this assessment with flying colors and we did not have to make any structural adjustments to qualify.”
A positive impact on society
Serge Bueters, the CEO of Squla, considers it honourable that Squla can call itself a ‘B Corp’ and is part of a select group of organizations that want to make a positive impact on society and that themes such as social responsibility, transparency and sustainability are of paramount importance. are the standard. “I consider it a very nice recognition of our mission. Squla wants to enable all children – regardless of their parents’ financial resources – to grow and use their talents. That is a mission to which we have been faithful for ten years. For many years, Squla has served as a supplement to education and a nice extra support in teaching to stimulate, challenge and grow students’ self-confidence at their own level and pace. In the existing education system – with its ever-expanding classes and the growing teacher shortage – this is no superfluous luxury. This is how we give substance to our social responsibility and we are extremely proud that Squla can call itself a “B Corporation”.
Equal opportunities for a good education for all children
Squla can be used as a low-threshold and accessible tool that teachers can use to give children an extra helping hand, not only at school, but also at home. For example, “Squla in de Klas” is free every day of the week during school hours. After school, the platform is available at home for paying subscribers. Here Squla tries to keep the threshold as low as possible for families who are less fortunate and works together with organizations such as Stichting Leergeld and the Het Jeugdeducatiefonds. In the past period, Squla has shown in various ways that it takes its social responsibility seriously. When the schools had to close their doors this spring due to corona, this was the reason to open ‘Squla in de Klas’ to all children in the Netherlands, also at home. By making the platform free for all primary school students, Squla has met a great need. Every day, more than 300,000 children logged into the platform from home and answered more than 80 million questions about the teaching material they used to practice.
About B Corp
The B Corp movement is an initiative of the B Lab founded in 2006. This American non-profit organization is active worldwide in the development, award and verification of the B Corp certification. B Lab is now active in 70 countries and in the Netherlands for the past five years. There are currently 3,600 “B Corps” worldwide, of which about 800 in Europe and over 100 in the Netherlands. The B Corp status shows that the company does not only successfully focus on commercial, but also on social and sustainable purposes, thereby contributing to a better world. To achieve this status, companies go through a strict audit. This involves an evaluation of the company’s social, ecological and societal performance and looking at transparency and accountability. Companies that achieve at least 80 out of 200 points in this evaluation may call themselves a B Corp. After that, they must re-certify every three years to maintain their B Corp status.
About Squla
Squla is the largest provider of supplementary education in the Netherlands. More than 180,000 primary students practice and play Squla from home and more than 600,000 primary students through their primary school. Squla is an online exercise program for primary school students in grades 1 to 8. With fun quizzes and games they practice with the curriculum of school. Squla is a supplement, intended to support teaching at school and also at home, to stimulate students at their own level and at their own pace. Squla believes this should be available to every child. That is why teachers can use Squla in de Klas for free. Squla was developed by educational experts and game developers. This makes the quizzes not only fun, but also completely in line with the educational goals set by the government. Squla is part of Futurewhiz, which is active in Poland as well as in the Netherlands. Futurewhiz has 70 employees and is located in Amsterdam. In addition to Squla, Futurewhiz also owns WRTS, an online learning platform for high school students to learn words and concepts more easily and quickly, and scoyo, the German equivalent of Squla.
Note to the editor (not for publication)
For more information, please contact Caroline Henneman from Squla; phone: 0646847053; e-mail: caroline@squla.com.
Are you curious about our report? Take a look at it here.
- 7 million German students get access to the innovative Squla platform
- A free classroom solution for all German teachers
- Scoyo expands its services for children, parents and teachers
Amsterdam, September 1, 2020 – Edtech company Futurewhiz, parent company of Squla and WRTS, today announced the acquisition of its German counterpart Scoyo. For example, online learning platform Squla gains access to 7 million German primary and lower secondary school students. Retaining its name, Scoyo is adding its local educational content to the innovative Squla platform on mobile / web for home and school. Just like in the Netherlands and Poland, German children, parents and teachers will soon be able to work online with the school material. No announcement has been made about the acquisition price.
Squla is the largest provider of supplementary education in the Netherlands and Poland. In the Netherlands, some 180,000 children play and practice from home and more than 600,000 through their primary school with Squla. The acquisition of Scoyo by Futurewhiz gives the Squla platform a flying start in German education.
Serge Bueters, the CEO of Futurewhiz: “Our goal is to give as many children as possible access to our popular Squla platform to support them in learning. With Squla, each child can do this at their own level and pace and in accordance with the curriculum. This demonstrably improves learning performance. With the acquisition of Scoyo, we will not only be able to do this in the Netherlands and Poland, but soon also in a large market such as Germany. By integrating Squla into Scoyo, we expect to be able to help an extra seven million children.”
Scoyo is one of the top 3 educational platforms in Germany for grades 1 to 7 with quizzes, videos, tests and educational games tailored to the type of school, the school level and the curriculum of schools in the 16 different German states.
Squla adds a number of extra possibilities to the current Scoyo learning environment. For example, the Squla learning platform is much more extensive, Squla consists of an app and a web environment and also provides an overview of learning efficiency for parents and teachers. The latter group will also have its own online environment especially for teachers. Scoyo is, just like Squla in the Netherlands, free to use in the classroom. For home use, parents pay a fixed amount per month for their school-aged children.
“The free use of Scoyo in the classroom is in line with our goal that we want to give every child the opportunity to grow. So also the children who do not have the means at home to pay for a monthly subscription, ”says Bueters. He realizes that the situation in Germany is still different than in the Netherlands, where almost everyone at school and at home has fast internet and sufficient access to the necessary hardware such as PCs or tablets. “Germany is not yet at the level of the Netherlands in that respect. But the corona crisis has also made it clear in Germany that it is important to make the transition to digital education. This, in combination with the growing need for customized education, partly due to full classes and a shortage of teachers, is an important reason that we have now decided to take over Scoyo, ”explains Bueters.
About Futurewhiz and Squla
Squla is part of Futurewhiz, which is active in Poland as well as in the Netherlands. Futurewhiz has 70 employees and is located in Amsterdam. In addition to Squla, Futurewhiz also owns WRTS, an online learning platform for high school students to learn words and concepts more easily and quickly. Squla is the largest provider of supplementary education in the Netherlands. More than 180,000 children practice and play Squla from home and more than 600,000 children through their primary school. Squla offers online practice programs for children in grades 1 to 8. With fun quizzes and games they practice with the curriculum of school. Squla is a supplement, intended to support teaching at school and also at home, to stimulate students at their own level and at their own pace. Squla believes this should be available to every child. That is why teachers can use Squla in de Klas for free. Squla was developed by educational experts and game developers. This makes the quizzes not only fun, but also completely in line with the educational goals set by the government.
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Download the press photo of CEO Serge Bueters here.
