The UK鈥檚 largest independent tuition provider has appointed Lisa Haycox as its CEO as the business enters its next phase of growth.聽
Haycox succeeds founder Bill Mills at the helm of Explore Learning, who remains on the board as founder director.聽
She joined Explore Learning over two decades ago in 2002 as a tutor and held several senior roles, most recently serving as COO, where she led the company鈥檚 digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Haycox will now lead the EdTech which supported 50,000 school-aged children in 2024, either at one of 94 learning centres nationwide or online.聽
Its proprietary AI platform, Compass, personalises each child鈥檚 journey, providing real-time adaptive learning and progress data.聽
The Guildford-based firm鈥檚 monthly membership model includes ongoing access to Compass outside of tutored sessions, enabling a route for its members to typically make 19 months of progress in 12 months.
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The business has significantly accelerated growth in the last five years, doubling EBITDA in 2024.聽聽聽
鈥淎t a time of seismic change in education, Explore Learning stands at the forefront, redefining what learning could and should look like,鈥� said David Kelly, chairman of Explore Learning.
鈥淪ince its inception, Explore Learning has pioneered an innovative approach to education outside of the classroom, blending expert educators with technology. Together, this approach enables children to achieve not only academic goals but also equips them with essential life skills.聽
鈥淗aving overseen Explore Learning鈥檚 digital transformation, we are delighted Lisa will lead the business through its next phase, scaling impact and delivering results in a high growth market worth 拢2bn today.鈥�
Haycox added: 鈥淓xplore Learning is uniquely positioned within the ecosystem to transform the future of education. Teachers are doing a phenomenal job, but with significant pressure on the system, an increasing number of families are looking for additional support.聽
鈥淥ur vision is to ensure every child, regardless of background or location, has access to high-quality, personalised learning, using data to work with families and teachers to deliver better outcomes.聽
鈥淏y combining the best of our AI-powered technology with the expertise of our educators, we will continue to drive innovation, unlock potential, and empower the next generation to thrive.鈥�