‘Beyond the Grades’ - BBC WM Interview

Rory Gaskin, Founder and CEO, in conversation with Merisha Stevenson

On Results Day, TLC’s Founder and CEO, Rory joined BBC presenter Merisha Stevenson to share his perspective on what success really means for young people.

Rory reminded listeners that while exam results are important, they are not the only measure of achievement. “True success is built on resilience, character, and the ability to turn setbacks into opportunities,” he explained. His advice to students who did not achieve the grades they had hoped for was clear: your future is not defined by a single results day.

During the interview, Rory also spoke about the origins and motivation behind The Learners Collective. Drawing on his own educational journey and lived experiences, he explained how TLC was founded to offer young people more than traditional tutoring ever could. The vision was — and remains — to create a learning community that combines academic support, mentoring, and life-skills development, equipping students not only to succeed in exams but to thrive in life.

You can watch the interview below:

If you are a parent, teacher or school-leader interested in our School Programme, please contact rory@learnerscollective.com.