Performance Learning is led by a team of experts in education, technology, neuroscience, and behavioural science — united by a belief that how a learner feels about learning is just as important as what they’re taught.
From Coaching the Forgotten to Powering a Movement
What started as a mission to help the hardest-to-reach learners is now a full-scale framework transforming how schools, colleges, and trusts unlock potential — one learner at a time.
The Origin Story
Performance Learning began on the ground — not in a boardroom. Our founder, Dr. Tej Samani, spent over a decade coaching learners who had been written off by the system: those failing in education, disengaged from learning, and overlooked by traditional interventions.
Instead of focusing on content, Tej focused on what most systems miss:
✅ Focused on how learners feel about learning
✅ Observed behaviours in learning environments
✅ Prioritised belief over performance
That approach worked over and over. But it couldn’t scale. So, we built a system that could.
From One-to-One to Nationwide
What was once 1:1 coaching became a diagnostic and personalised learning system now used by:
The Why That Drives Us
We’re here to change how people think about underperformance.
Because it’s not always about intelligence — it’s about perception, belief, and behaviour.
We don’t wait for learners to fail before we support them.
We identify early, act quickly, and build systems that restore belief and deliver results.
🧠 Help learners understand themselves
👨🎓 Help educators support them with clarity
🏫 Help institutions deliver progress with confidence
Meet the Team Behind Performance Learning
Leadership & Strategy
Dr. Tej Samani
Founder & CEO
Founder of Performance Learning, created through over ten years of research and development covering assessment, learning and training. Honorary Research Fellow, Sussex University. Prior to Performance Learning, Tej competed on the ATP Tour as a Professional Tennis Player.
Dr. David McKee
Chief Technology Officer
A globally respected technologist, David is a guest lecturer at Oxford, Leeds, and Central Florida and leads international standardisation on digital twins. He drives the innovation behind our AI and system infrastructure.
Andrew Lewin
Director of Education
A former headteacher with deep expertise in school improvement, wellbeing, and coaching. Andrew ensures our work lands where it matters — in classrooms, staffrooms, and leadership teams.
Nina Fortnam
General Manager
Nina oversees daily operations, timelines, partnerships, and delivery. She ensures the platform – and our people – move with speed and integrity.
James Leech
Sales Executive
With over 14 years of EdTech experience, James has helped hundreds of schools and colleges drive impact through smart, scalable technology.
Engineering & Development
Lionel Arucy
Senior Backend Engineer
Specialist in data platforms, automation, and AI infrastructure. Lionel ensures our systems are secure, scalable, and deeply intelligent.
Kibet Dennis
Senior Frontend Engineer
Kibet brings cross-industry expertise from health tech, fintech, and gaming — designing clean, user-focused interfaces that drive engagement.
Academic Counsel
Prof. Michael S. C. Thomas
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Birkbeck University and founder of the Developmental Neurocognition Lab, Michael leads our academic validation and cognitive science insights.
Prof. Ana Isabel Canhoto
Professor of Digital Business at the University of Sussex, Ana advises on personalisation, AI ethics, and situational vulnerability in digital education.