In short
Performance Learning helps primary schools support pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6 by identifying early barriers to learning, preparing them for SATs and the 11+, and easing the move to secondary school. Foresight is a calm, child-friendly online assessment built for ages 8 and over; SOAR then gives each child a personalised pathway that builds confidence, focus and learning skills.
Why does early insight matter in primary school?
In primary school, the seeds of self-belief, curiosity, confidence and anxiety are planted. What children believe about learning in these years shapes everything that follows, and the younger they master how to learn, the better they perform and cope as they get older.
Many of these beliefs are invisible in attainment data. Fear of failure, emotional overwhelm and quiet disengagement rarely show up in a test score until they are already holding a child back. Performance Learning helps you see them early, so no child is missed, misread or misunderstood in their formative years.
What does Performance Learning do for Years 4, 5 and 6?
For Key Stage 2 pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6, Performance Learning helps with three things.
- Identifying early barriers to learning. Foresight shows how each pupil feels about learning, not just how they perform. Behaviour, attention, worry and self-belief are all considered alongside academic needs.
- Preparing for SATs and the 11+. SOAR teaches practical techniques for memorising, organising and understanding information, alongside time management, energy and sleep.
- Making the move to secondary school. Foresight and SOAR build the self-belief, emotional resilience and learning skills that pupils carry with them into Year 7.
Families preparing children at home can find more in our guides to SATs support and 11+ coaching.
How is Foresight designed for younger pupils?
Foresight is a calm, child-friendly online assessment built for children aged 8 and over. It reveals how each pupil experiences learning beneath the surface, without text-heavy questions or the pressure of a “right” answer.
| Feature | Foresight | Typical pupil surveys |
|---|---|---|
| Captures emotions linked to learning | Yes | Not typically |
| Personalised learning actions | Yes, through SOAR | Manual or generic |
| Child-friendly design | Built for age 8+ | Often text-heavy |
| Explains the “why” behind behaviour | In depth | Surface-level trends |
| Feeds directly into pupil progress | Links straight to SOAR | Disconnected |
What support do pupils, staff and families get?
Once pupils have completed Foresight, SOAR builds a personalised learning journey for each child. That journey gently builds confidence, focus and achievement, creating a foundation for emotional resilience and long-term growth as well as academic success.
For staff, the same insight informs interventions and class planning. You move from concern to clarity in minutes, with one-page action plans and clear guidance on next steps.
For families, the results give school and home a shared picture of the child. Pupils, parents and teachers can follow progress and engagement as pupils work through their pathways.
How does the programme work over the year?
Performance Learning runs in four repeating steps, so support keeps pace with each child.
- Assess. A simple, quick assessment identifies behavioural, perceptual and wellbeing challenges before they become obstacles to learning.
- Train. Personalised pathways, structured across five learning levels, give each pupil the skills they need.
- Re-assess. Short assessments after lessons combine how a pupil feels with what they have learned, so the pathway adapts to them.
- Measure. Pupils track their own progress on a learner dashboard, which empowers them, while teachers, school leaders and parents get real-time updates.
What did one Year 4 class reveal?
After using Foresight with a Year 4 cohort, one school found a surprising pattern. Several pupils with good grades were quietly struggling with anxiety, particularly around maths and group reading.
Each child then received tailored skills through SOAR. Within weeks, the school saw participation improve, confidence grow and the classroom shift from avoidance to engagement. The lesson for primary leaders: good grades can hide a child who is coping rather than coasting.
How can a primary school get started?
- Choose two year groups to try the assessment, intervention and upskilling platform.
- Run the assessment. Each pupil completes Foresight online.
- Talk through the results with the Performance Learning team on a call.
- Receive a one-page action plan to help you get the most from each learner.
Plans are priced per pupil and depend on scope. You can compare them on our school pricing options page.
What is the evidence?
Students using Performance Learning improved by an average of 2.4 grades against their predicted grades (Thomas et al., 2024, an analysis of 940 students led by Birkbeck’s Centre for Educational Neuroscience).
The approach is grounded in Dr Tej Samani’s peer-reviewed research, including a study on bridging the gap between high- and low-performing pupils. You can read it on our research page. Topcliffe Primary School in Birmingham’s work with Performance Learning was the subject of an i News long read, listed with other coverage on our press page.
Frequently asked questions
What age is the Foresight assessment designed for?
Foresight is built for children aged 8 and over, so primary schools can use it from Year 4. It is designed to be calm and child-friendly rather than text-heavy, and it gives pupils time to reflect without the pressure of finding a 'right' answer. Performance Learning's primary work focuses on Years 4, 5 and 6.
How long does the pupil questionnaire take?
The Foresight assessment takes about 25 minutes and is completed online. Pupils can take it individually or as a class or year group. Afterwards, the Performance Learning team can talk your staff through the results and produce a one-page action plan, so you move from concern to clarity quickly and know what to do next for each child.
Does Performance Learning help with SATs?
Yes. Performance Learning teaches pupils how to learn, including techniques for memorising, organising and understanding information, managing time and getting enough sleep, all of which support SATs preparation. Foresight also shows which pupils are anxious about learning or tests, so staff can support them well before Year 6 exams. It focuses on how pupils learn, alongside your subject teaching.
Can we share the results with parents?
Yes. The same insights that inform staff interventions and class planning can be used to communicate with families. Reports can be shared with pupils, parents and teachers, and all three can follow progress and engagement as pupils work through their SOAR pathways. This helps school and home support each child in the same way.
Will it pick up pupils who are doing well but struggling inside?
That is what it is designed to do. Foresight looks at how a child feels about learning as well as how they perform. In one school's Year 4 cohort, it showed that several pupils with good grades were quietly struggling with anxiety, particularly around maths and group reading, which attainment data alone had not revealed.
How is pupil data protected?
Performance Learning processes personal data in line with GDPR and protects it with strict security measures, including encryption and secure servers, with access limited to authorised personnel. Your school keeps control over the data it shares, who it is shared with and for how long. Performance Learning also has a Data Protection Officer you can contact with any questions.
How much does Performance Learning cost for a primary school?
School plans are priced per pupil, in GBP excluding VAT, across three tiers: Standard (£3–15 per pupil), Premium (£5–45) and Enhanced (£15–85). Your price depends on scope, such as how many pupils and year groups take part and the level of support you choose. Book a call with the primary team for a quote.
