In short
Performance Learning gives schools Foresight, an anonymised online pupil-voice questionnaire that profiles learning behaviours, wellbeing and attainment factors across a cohort. Staff dashboards flag which pupils need support first. SOAR then delivers personalised learn-to-learn pathways, backed by in-school coaching, revision workshops and a Level 3 Ofqual-regulated diploma for teachers. Pricing is per pupil, from £3.
What does Performance Learning give schools?
Performance Learning gives your school one joined-up system: an assessment that captures pupil voice, a platform that acts on it, and coaches who come into school when a platform alone isn’t enough. Founded by Dr Tej Samani in 2013, it teaches pupils how to learn, not just what to learn.
| Part | What it does for your school |
|---|---|
| Foresight pupil-voice questionnaire | An anonymised online questionnaire covering more than 75 learner dimensions, including metacognition, motivation, attitudes and behaviours, wellbeing and learn-to-learn skills. |
| Staff dashboards and reports | Individual profiles, alert levels and cohort reports, so leaders, Heads of Year and SENCos can spot patterns across a year group and drill down to individual pupils. |
| SOAR personalised pathways | Online learn-to-learn modules triggered by each pupil’s results, covering retention, time management, exam anxiety, energy and sleep. |
| In-school coaching | Live coaching for the pupils Foresight flags as most at risk, mapped to their profile. |
| Workshops | Practical sessions such as 2-hour revision workshops for Years 10 and 11. |
| Staff training | A Level 3 Ofqual-regulated diploma that helps teachers deliver metacognition, wellbeing and learn-to-learn skills in the classroom. |
| Thrive | Assessments that develop workplace and entrepreneurship skills, with a version for younger pupils. |
How does it work in school?
Performance Learning works in four steps that repeat through the year.
- Assess. Pupils complete Foresight online, individually or as a whole cohort. There are no right answers, so pupils can reflect honestly.
- Prioritise. Alert levels and a high, moderate or low risk rating show which pupils need support and how urgently, so you can allocate staff time where it counts.
- Personalise. Every pupil gets a SOAR pathway. Moderate-risk pupils add small-group coaching, and high-risk pupils get in-person coaching, family engagement and motivational work.
- Re-assess and measure. Pupils re-assess as they learn, and dashboards give staff real-time updates on each pupil’s progress.
It’s not guesswork. It’s insight.
How does it fit your school improvement plan?
Foresight gives you a baseline of how pupils feel about learning, which attainment data alone can’t show. Hidden needs such as learning anxiety, disengagement and possible SEND flags surface early, so you can plan interventions before they become behaviour or attendance problems.
Because pupils re-assess, you can show distance travelled across the year. The modular rollout means you can start in any term, and live data reviews and strategic planning are built into the deployment model, so Performance Learning fits your existing review cycles rather than adding new ones.
Which schools is it for?
Performance Learning works across phases, from Year 4 to further education.
- Primary schools: early insight for Years 4 to 6, SATs, the 11+ and the move to secondary.
- Secondary schools: Years 7 to 11, GCSE outcomes and revision workshops.
- Independent schools: pastoral and academic insight across a whole school.
- Multi-academy trusts: trust-wide diagnostics, dashboards and phased rollout.
- Further education colleges: learner retention, progression and work readiness.
Schools that have worked with Performance Learning include Eton College, Rugby School, St Edward’s Oxford, Strathallan School, Scalby School, The Appleton School and Topcliffe Primary School. In total, 300 institutions across the UK have used Performance Learning.
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 also draws on Dr Tej Samani’s peer-reviewed research, including work on using pupils’ non-cognitive self-reports to predict learning outcomes, presented at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education. You can read the papers on our research page.
Frequently asked questions
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 whole cohort. Because there are no right or wrong answers, pupils have time to reflect without the pressure of getting something 'right', and their responses feed straight into the individual profiles, alert levels and cohort reports your staff use.
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. Schools keep control over the data they share, who they share it with and for how long. Performance Learning also has a Data Protection Officer you can contact with any questions before or during rollout.
Which year groups can use Performance Learning?
Foresight is built for children aged 8 and over, so schools can use it from Year 4 upwards. Performance Learning supports Years 4 to 6 in primary, Years 7 to 11 in secondary, sixth forms and further education colleges. The Appleton School, for example, uses it to identify the needs of pupils in Year 7 and Year 12, and Eton College enrolled pupils in Years 9 and 10.
Can we start part-way through the school year?
Yes. Performance Learning uses a modular rollout, so schools can onboard in the Autumn, Spring or Summer term and still receive the full programme. Every term is a chance to reset outcomes and rebuild engagement. Rollout follows a phased model, from planning and onboarding through diagnostics, SOAR pathways and coaching to live data reviews and strategic planning.
Does Foresight replace the pupil surveys we already use?
It can do either. Foresight is built to sit alongside the pupil attitude and wellbeing tools many schools already use, or to replace several separate surveys with one assessment. The difference is what happens next: SOAR turns each pupil's results into a personalised learning pathway, so your staff get direction as well as data.
What training is available for staff?
Performance Learning offers a Level 3 Ofqual-regulated diploma that helps teachers deliver metacognition, wellbeing and learn-to-learn skills in their classrooms. There are also CPD-accredited staff diplomas for DSLs, SENCos, Heads of Year and Behaviour Leads. The Enhanced school plan includes the teacher qualification (Units 1 and 2) for up to three teachers.
How much does Performance Learning cost for schools?
School plans are priced per pupil, in GBP excluding VAT. Standard costs £3–15 per pupil, Premium £5–45 and Enhanced £15–85. Where your school sits in each range depends on scope, such as how many pupils take part and how much support you need. Book a call and the team will help you choose a plan and give you a quote.
