In short
Performance Learning helps secondary schools raise GCSE outcomes across Years 7 to 11 by finding pupils who are underperforming because they have lost belief, not ability. Foresight assesses more than 75 dimensions of how each pupil feels, behaves and engages; SOAR builds personalised pathways; and in-school coaching and 2-hour revision workshops for Years 10 and 11 support those who need it most.
Why do capable secondary pupils underperform?
Too many secondary pupils underperform, and it isn’t because they lack intelligence. It’s because they have lost belief. Behaviour escalates, attendance drops, and teachers burn out trying to fix a problem they can’t see.
By the time a pupil is behind in Year 10 or 11, traditional interventions are often too little, too late. What they need isn’t more content. They need to be seen, understood and supported in the way that works for them.
How does Performance Learning work in a secondary school?
Performance Learning gives secondary schools one system with three layers of support across Key Stages 3 and 4. When you understand how pupils feel about learning, everything changes.
Foresight: understand how pupils feel about learning
Foresight uncovers what academic data can’t: how a pupil feels about learning, how they show up in class and what is holding them back emotionally, cognitively and behaviourally. It assesses more than 75 dimensions and gives each pupil a risk level, so no pupil slips through.
SOAR: a personalised pathway for every pupil
SOAR takes that insight and builds a personalised learning pathway based on each pupil’s mindset, behaviour triggers and readiness to learn. Pathways cover skills such as retention, time management, managing exam anxiety, energy and sleep.
In-school coaching: a real person for those who need it most
Some pupils need more than a platform: disengaged pupils, learners on the edge of exclusion, and pupils with SEND who have stopped believing school works for them. Foresight flags them, and Performance Learning’s coaches work with them in person, in school.
| Risk level | Coaching approach |
|---|---|
| High | In-person coaching, family engagement and motivational work |
| Moderate | Small-group coaching blended with SOAR digital pathways |
| Low | Self-led stretch coaching and SOAR platform-driven growth |
What do staff see after the assessment?
Foresight turns pupil responses into information Heads of Year, SENCos and tutors can act on straight away.
- Individual profiles showing each pupil’s results, strengths and areas for improvement.
- Perception analysis that ranks the perceptions holding a pupil back, so you can intervene before they affect confidence and progress.
- Early warning signs of intellectual and emotional barriers, such as learning anxiety and disengagement.
- One-page action plans for pupils and staff, with clear steps for each area to work on.
- Cohort reports that show patterns across a class or year group and help you plan targeted interventions.
What are the revision workshops for Years 10 and 11?
Performance Learning runs 2-hour revision workshops in school for Year 10 and 11 pupils. Each workshop focuses on:
- boosting wellbeing, with practical tips and tricks
- strategies to improve retention
- practical ways to support individual learning styles
A workshop booking also includes access to:
- an initial assessment for pupils in Year 10 or 11
- comprehensive feedback reports on the cohort and on individual pupils
- identification of key areas for improvement, such as organisation, confidence, stress and wellbeing
- tailored online lessons that address specific areas of weakness
How did Scalby School use Performance Learning?
Scalby School boosted Progress 8 with Performance Learning. It is one of a number of schools across the UK that have fully embraced the programme, using it for insight into pupils’ needs and targeted coaching for those who need it.
Dr Tej Samani has talked through the school’s experience with Jordan Philliskirk, Assistant Headteacher for Achievement & Standards at Scalby School. You can read more school stories on our impact page.
How does it support staff and school planning?
- Staff diplomas. Accredited training for SENCos, DSLs, Behaviour Leads and Heads of Year, plus a Level 3 Ofqual-regulated diploma that helps teachers deliver metacognition, wellbeing and learn-to-learn skills.
- Term-based deployment. Start in the Autumn, Spring or Summer term. The six-phase model fits your timetable.
- Whole-school planning. Cohort data on wellbeing, behaviour and learning attitudes gives your improvement plan a starting point beyond attainment. Read why your school improvement plan should be led by emotional data.
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).
Performance Learning is backed by peer-reviewed research led by Dr Tej Samani, which you can read on our research page. It is used by state and independent schools and alternative provision, and designed to support SEND, SEMH and hard-to-reach pupils.
Parents looking for support outside school can read about GCSE exam coaching with Performance Learning.
Frequently asked questions
Which year groups is Performance Learning designed for in secondary schools?
Performance Learning supports Years 7 to 11, across Key Stages 3 and 4, and is used in state and independent schools and alternative provision. The revision workshops are designed for Years 10 and 11. It is also used beyond Year 11: The Appleton School uses Performance Learning to identify the needs of pupils in Year 7 and Year 12.
How long does the pupil questionnaire take?
The Foresight assessment takes about 25 minutes online, and pupils can complete it individually or as a whole cohort. It assesses more than 75 dimensions of how a pupil feels, behaves and engages with learning. Results feed into individual profiles, risk levels and cohort reports, so staff can see straight away which pupils need support first.
What happens to pupils flagged as high risk?
Pupils rated high risk receive in-person coaching in school from Performance Learning's coaching team, with family engagement and motivational work. Moderate-risk pupils get small-group coaching blended with SOAR digital pathways, and low-risk pupils follow self-led stretch coaching on SOAR. Disengaged pupils and those on the edge of exclusion are not left to a screen alone.
What do the Year 10 and 11 revision workshops cover?
The 2-hour revision workshops focus on boosting wellbeing with practical tips, strategies to improve retention, and practical ways to support individual learning styles. A workshop booking also includes an initial assessment for Year 10 or 11 pupils, cohort and individual feedback reports, the key areas each pupil needs to work on, and tailored online lessons.
Does Performance Learning support pupils with SEND?
Yes. Performance Learning is designed to support pupils with SEND and SEMH needs and other hard-to-reach pupils. Foresight surfaces early signs such as possible SEND flags, learning anxiety and disengagement, and the risk-based model gives pupils who need a person rather than a platform in-person coaching. Staff diplomas are also available for SENCos, DSLs and Behaviour Leads.
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.
Can we start in the middle of the school year?
Yes. Schools can start in the Autumn, Spring or Summer term and still deliver the full programme. Performance Learning uses a six-phase deployment model, from planning and onboarding through diagnostics, SOAR pathways and coaching to live data reviews, certification and strategic planning, so it fits around your timetable rather than the other way round.