We built Avalon Achieve® because schools deserve better than spreadsheets
Avalon is a small team with deep roots in school technology. We’ve spent decades working inside schools – managing systems, integrating data, and watching teachers try to do more with less. The idea for Avalon Achieve® came from seeing exactly how much time enrichment coordination was consuming and how little visibility schools had into who was actually participating.
Shortly after our formation in late-2022, we were approached by Richard Challoner School in south-west London. They wanted our help to turn a paper-based enrichment programme into a fully digital experience that would help identify and celebrate the extracurricular achievements of their students. Avalon Achieve® is the result of that close collaboration and it has grown to become a core tool at Richard Challoner School and started growth to other secondary schools from there.
The people behind the platform
Ben Brook
Co-founder • Business Lead & Front-End Developer
My first experience of tech in a school was being asked to diagnose why a disk drive wasn’t working on the only BBC Micro in the class. I was only six years old and I found the cause to be play sand! Technology has come along way since then and so has my interest in helping teachers get the best out of it.
I have worked in university research establishments that study Earth’s oceans and secondary schools that work hard to give their students the best start in life. In education, there are few second chances for technology – it has to work when it’s needed and if it doesn’t that time is lost. It’s important to make technology solutions that ‘just work’ for teachers and students alike and is always the most prominent thought in my mind when creating solutions for schools.
Debbie O’Mahoney
Application Support Engineer
I started my career in tech 27 years ago (yes, I am that old!!), where working with a great team sparked my curiosity and encouraged me to become more inquisitive. I quickly realised how much I enjoyed tech, both finding and solving problems … and that is where my career began.
Becoming a mum added a whole new dimension. Managing the day-to-day juggle of school clubs, out-of-school schedules, and family life strengthened my ability to stay organised, think ahead, and adapt quickly.
With one of my children having additional learning needs, I’ve also seen first-hand how important it is for students to feel organised, to clearly see what’s coming up, and to be recognised for their achievements, supporting their sense of belonging and happiness.
Over time, these two parts of my life naturally came together. My experience in tech and my perspective as a parent now shape the way I think, solve problems, and connect with others…leading me to where I am today at Avalon.
What drives us
Every student deserves to be seen
Not just the ones who play sport or join the drama club. Every student. Especially the disengaged ones.
Compliance shouldn’t mean paperwork
Schools shouldn’t have to spend a weekend building an evidence pack for Ofsted. The data should already be there.
Schools know their students best
We build tools that give them the data to act on what they already know. Not dashboards that tell teachers how to teach.
Schools we work with
Avalon Achieve® is used by secondary schools across London and the South East. Our founding school, Richard Challoner School in New Malden, has been running the Challoner Challenge on the platform since 2023. Since then, we have added St Joseph’s Catholic College in Swindon, St John the Baptist School in Woking and we continue to help other schools with delivery of effective, Ofsted-ready enrichment programmes.
Want to see it in your school?
Book a 20-minute call with Ben to talk through what Avalon Achieve® can do for your enrichment programme. No hard sell — just a conversation about what you need and whether we’re the right fit.