In short
Performance Learning is a UK education company founded in 2013 by Dr Tej Samani. It helps young people reach exam grades that reflect their true ability by combining a non-cognitive diagnostic assessment (Foresight), metacognitive training and mindset coaching. It works with parents preparing children for SATs, the 11 Plus, GCSEs and A levels, and with schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts.
What is Performance Learning?
Performance Learning is a UK education company that helps young people reach exam grades and academic milestones that reflect their true ability and potential. It was founded in 2013 by Dr Tej Samani and is based in London, working with families and schools across the United Kingdom, online and in person.
Instead of re-teaching subject content, Performance Learning tackles the root causes of underperformance: how students feel about learning, how they see themselves and how they behave in learning environments. It combines a diagnostic assessment, metacognitive training and mindset coaching. It’s not guesswork. It’s insight.
Our mission
Our mission is to level the playing field in education by giving every pupil the tools and resources they need to succeed, irrespective of ability, background or social standing, so that every student has the chance to reach their full potential.
Our vision
Our vision is bold: to serve 1 billion pupils in the next 30 years, using technology and a framework built on more than a decade of research and evidence.
Our values
| Value | What it means for us |
|---|---|
| Integrity | We hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty and transparency in everything we do. |
| Innovation | We keep developing new and effective ways to support learning and teaching. |
| Equality | Every pupil deserves equal access to education, whatever their circumstances. |
| Collaboration | We work together and use our collective strengths to achieve our mission. |
What do we do for parents and students?
For families, everything starts with understanding how your child learns. Performance Learning offers four ways in:
- The Foresight assessment: a 25-minute online assessment with a one-page action plan for your child, one for you and a 35-page report to share with school. £50.
- Foresight + SOAR Online Learning: the Foresight assessment plus our adaptive online learning platform, with personalised pathways and monthly progress monitoring. £10 a month.
- Virtual Classroom with PL: two live, interactive 2-hour sessions in a small group, with a Foresight assessment included. £295.
- Academic Transformation with Dr Tej: year-round one-to-one coaching and mentoring with Dr Tej Samani. Application only.
You can compare everything on our prices for parents page.
What do we do for schools, colleges and trusts?
For schools, Performance Learning provides pupil-voice diagnostics, trust-wide dashboards, metacognition programmes and teacher-supported interventions. We work with primary, secondary and independent schools, state schools and pupil referral units, colleges and multi-academy trusts.
Schools that have used Performance Learning include Eton College, Rugby School, St Edward’s Oxford, Strathallan School, Sunningdale School, Scalby School, The Appleton School, Topcliffe Primary School, Knole Academy, The Gatwick School and Brighton Hill Community School. Find out more about Performance Learning for schools, or read what schools say on our impact page.
Where Performance Learning is used
Performance Learning’s technology and coaching have been developed for several settings:
- Performance Learning Primary: helping Years 4, 5 and 6 identify early barriers to learning, prepare for the 11 Plus or SATs and move on to secondary school.
- Performance Learning Secondary: helping Years 7 to 11 in state schools identify gaps in skills, wellbeing and behaviour.
- Performance Learning Independent: helping independent schools identify gaps in skills, wellbeing and behaviour, and profile school culture.
- Performance Learning Live: assessment, an online learning platform, live group coaching and one-to-one support for pupils at home.
- Performance Learning Prisons: screening and coaching for prisoners, delivered on site through in-cell and online learning, including an “entry to employment” screener before release, with the aim of reducing reoffending.
- Performance Learning Work Ready: skills development and assessment to prepare young people for the workplace.
- Performance Learning Teachers: a diploma to help teachers deliver metacognition, wellbeing and learning-to-learn skills in their classrooms.
All of these draw on Performance Learning Technologies, which combines behavioural and wellbeing indicators with academic data so that schools can spot barriers early and act on them.
Recognition
- Teach Secondary Awards 2024, Highly Commended
- Cyber Essentials Plus certified
- Digital Twin Consortium member, 2025
Our team
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr Tej Samani | Founder and CEO |
| Prof Lyndon Simkin | Director |
| Andrew Lewin | Education Development Director |
| Nina Fortnam-Paynter | Operations Manager |
| Lionel Arucy | Senior Data and ML Engineer |
| Kibet Dennis | Lead Frontend Engineer |
| Su Parker | Customer Services and Sales |
Read more about our founder on Dr Tej Samani’s profile.
Our special advisors
| Name | Background |
|---|---|
| Professor Michael Thomas | Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Birkbeck, University of London; Director of the Centre for Educational Neuroscience since 2010 |
| Professor Ana Canhoto | Digital business scholar, University of Sussex |
| Dr Lynne Green | Chief Clinical Officer, Kooth |
| Lord Lingfield (Sir Robert Balchin) | Senior government education adviser 1989–97 |
| Sir Martyn Lewis | Former BBC and ITV news anchor |
| Monica Duncan | Former headteacher, Northumberland Park Community School |
| Jay Varkey | Business development, GCC region |
See the studies behind our approach on our research page.
The Performance Learning Community
The Performance Learning Community brings together educators, schools, colleges and coaches who use Performance Learning. Members get free resources such as planning guides and staff briefings, invitations to webinars and sector briefings, on-demand training videos and first access to product updates. There is no cost and no contract. To join, book a call with our schools team.
Frequently asked questions
When was Performance Learning founded?
Performance Learning was founded in 2013 by Dr Tej Samani, who is still its Founder and CEO. It grew out of Dr Tej's coaching of learners who had been written off by the education system. That one-to-one work became a diagnostic and personalised learning system used by parents, state and independent schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts across the UK.
What is Performance Learning's mission?
Performance Learning's mission is to level the playing field in education by giving every pupil the tools and resources they need to succeed, irrespective of ability, background or social standing. Its vision is to serve 1 billion pupils in the next 30 years. Its four values are integrity, innovation, equality and collaboration.
Who runs Performance Learning?
Performance Learning is led by its founder and CEO, Dr Tej Samani. The team includes Prof Lyndon Simkin (Director), Andrew Lewin (Education Development Director), Nina Fortnam-Paynter (Operations Manager), Lionel Arucy (Senior Data and ML Engineer), Kibet Dennis (Lead Frontend Engineer) and Su Parker (Customer Services and Sales). The company is based in London and works across the UK.
Who are Performance Learning's special advisors?
Performance Learning's special advisors are Professor Michael Thomas of Birkbeck, University of London, Professor Ana Canhoto of the University of Sussex, Dr Lynne Green of Kooth, Lord Lingfield (Sir Robert Balchin), Sir Martyn Lewis, Monica Duncan and Jay Varkey. They bring expertise in cognitive neuroscience, digital business, clinical mental health, education policy, school leadership, media and business development.
Does Performance Learning work with parents or with schools?
Both. Parents can book a £50 Foresight assessment, SOAR online learning at £10 a month, the £295 Virtual Classroom with PL, or apply for Academic Transformation with Dr Tej. Schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts use Performance Learning's pupil-voice diagnostics, trust-wide dashboards, metacognition programmes and teacher-supported interventions.
What is the Performance Learning Community?
The Performance Learning Community is a free space for educators, schools, colleges and coaches who use Performance Learning. Members get downloadable resources such as planning guides and staff briefings, invitations to webinars and live events, on-demand training videos and first access to product updates. There is no cost and no contract. To join, book a call with the schools team.
