In short
Performance Learning welcomes the Curriculum and Assessment Review led by Professor Becky Francis but argues it does not go far enough. Dr Tej Samani says the biggest missing skill in British education is the ability to learn itself, and that real reform means measuring mindset and motivation, nurturing skills like critical thinking and creativity, and listening to student voice.
Key takeaways
- Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the government plans to strengthen pupils’ reading, science and maths skills.
- Dr Tej Samani argues the biggest missing skill in British education is the ability to learn.
- Performance Learning wants mindset, motivation and learning behaviour assessed and developed, not memory alone.
- Student voice is a major omission from the proposals; Performance Learning builds it into its methodology.
- Critical thinking and creativity help young people stay adaptable and employable in an AI-powered world.
This blog features quotes from Dr Tej Samani’s piece for FE News.
You might have read the news about a recent curriculum review in the British education system. It’s a welcome step, but more change is needed to actually help students thrive.
What’s this review all about? In response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review led by Professor Becky Francis, the government has announced new plans to ensure every young person leaves school with strong skills in reading, science and maths, as well as practical knowledge they need for life and work.
The Performance Learning promise
Whilst the review is welcome, here at Performance Learning, we’re leading the charge on a bigger revolution. We want to let students take charge of how they learn, so that every week at school gets them one step closer to a thriving adulthood.
Our approach goes beyond policy papers. Through our work with both students and schools, we’re already empowering learners, reshaping classrooms and giving teachers the tools to unlock the inner-potential that standard exams overlook.
For Performance Learning founder Dr Tej Samani, tweaking exams and modernising subjects isn’t enough to fix a system that still teaches youngsters simply how to pass an exam.
What Dr Tej has to say
In an article for FE News, he said: “Here’s the truth: the biggest missing skill in British education is the ability to learn itself. For 15 years, my work with Performance Learning has proven that when educators assess and develop mindset, motivation and learning behaviour, results soar, often doubling or tripling within a year.”
Through our data-led insight, Performance Learning continues to show that teaching students how to learn transforms not only their academic outcomes, but their confidence and wellbeing too.
The solution according to Dr Tej? Stop grading children based on memory, and start nurturing their emotions and inner-potential – particularly through human skills like critical thinking and creativity. These are the skills that make young people adaptable, employable and ready to thrive in our increasingly AI-powered world.
Dr Tej added: “At Performance Learning, we’ve seen the power of student voice first-hand. When young people are invited to express how they feel about learning and what helps them thrive, behaviour, motivation and results all change.
“Recently, I asked 40 students whether cutting 3 hours of exam time would help. All 40 said: ‘Let’s get real.’ They don’t want lighter exams; they want learning that means something. This review is a start, and it deserves recognition for that, but if we stop here, we’ll be reforming around the edges while young people continue to disengage.”
Another major omission from the recent government proposals is student voice. Real change happens when we give children the autonomy to shape how they are taught. That’s exactly what Performance Learning builds into our methodology. We give students ownership of their learning journey and help educators truly listen to what drives progress.
The bottom line on reforming education
“Real reform requires courage to teach students how to learn, to measure mindset and motivation. And to build a system that produces employable, entrepreneurial, adaptable young people ready for an AI-powered world,” said Dr Tej.
And that’s the revolution Performance Learning is already leading – one student, one teacher, one school at a time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Curriculum and Assessment Review?
It is a review of the curriculum and assessment in schools, led by Professor Becky Francis. In response, the government announced plans to ensure every young person leaves school with strong skills in reading, science and maths, as well as the practical knowledge they need for life and work. Performance Learning sees it as a welcome step, but believes more change is needed for students to thrive.
What does Dr Tej Samani think is missing from education reform?
Dr Tej argues that tweaking exams and modernising subjects is not enough to fix a system that still teaches young people simply how to pass an exam. In his view, the biggest missing skill in British education is the ability to learn itself. He wants educators to assess and develop mindset, motivation and learning behaviour, and to nurture human skills like critical thinking and creativity.
Why does student voice matter in education reform?
Performance Learning sees student voice as a major omission from the government proposals. Dr Tej says that when young people are invited to express how they feel about learning and what helps them thrive, behaviour, motivation and results all change. When he asked 40 students whether cutting three hours of exam time would help, they made clear they want learning that means something, not lighter exams.
How does Performance Learning approach learning differently?
Performance Learning works with students and schools to teach young people how to learn, rather than only how to pass exams. Using data-led insight, it assesses and develops mindset, motivation and learning behaviour, gives students ownership of their learning journey and helps educators listen to what drives progress. The aim is to improve confidence and wellbeing as well as academic outcomes.
Not sure what's holding your child back?
The Foresight assessment takes about 25 minutes online and shows how your child learns, what gets in the way and what to do next, with action plans for them and for you. £50.
