Cognition Learning Group

What Cognition Learning Group does

Cognition Learning Group is a New Zealand-domiciled, privately held education services group founded in 1989 and wholly owned by the non-profit Cognition Education Trust. Operating across seven international offices in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, the UAE, Malaysia, and the Solomon Islands, the group delivers services in more than 30 countries to ministries of education, schools, teachers, employers, and early-years families. The portfolio is structured around three core brands: Cognition Education (education consultancy and policy reform), Begin Bright (early-years education and school preparation, acquired 2016), and Cognition Evolve (bespoke digital learning, professional training, and apprenticeships, formed in 2025 by merging the previously acquired Wavelength Learning and Aspire Development brands). Proprietary methodologies underpin the offering, including Visible Learning Plus (developed with Professor John Hattie), the G.O.L.D. leadership framework, and the 5D Implementation Playbook, supported by published research books and an Education Advisory Panel of internationally recognised researchers.

The business generates revenue through a mix of professional services (government education consultancy, professional development programmes), subscription and recurring revenue (digital learning content, apprenticeship delivery, industry-standard qualifications), and one-time licensing of digital and published curriculum materials. Go-to-market is enterprise-focused, relying on direct engagement with ministries of education, government agencies, and institutional clients, augmented by thought-leadership content (academic publications, impact reports, webinars) and a brand-portfolio distribution model. Pricing is largely negotiated on a project basis for government contracts; specific unit pricing is only disclosed for freelance copy-editor day rates (USD 142-213/day) on the Solomon Islands curriculum project. The company reports 5.1 million educators, learners, government partners, and corporate staff reached between April 2024 and March 2025, and the UK Department for Education Teacher Mentoring Programme contract exemplifies the multi-year, multi-million-pound enterprise deals that anchor revenue.

The group is governed by a board chaired by Alastair Kerr (chair since January 2017) and led by Group CEO Tina Lucas (joined 2016, with prior senior roles at Nord Anglia Education and Aspire-Education) and Group CFO Sean Ryan. Ownership by the Cognition Education Trust constrains the business to a social-mission operating model, with profits reinvested into educational initiatives rather than distributed to shareholders, and the company has no disclosed external private equity or venture capital backing.

Name

Cognition Learning Group

Legal name

Cognition Learning Group

Website

https://cognitionlearninggroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cognition Learning Group is a New Zealand-based, trust-owned education services group operating across 30+ countries through three brands (Cognition Education, Begin Bright, Cognition Evolve), delivering education consultancy, professional development, digital learning, and apprenticeships to ministries of education, schools, teachers, and corporate employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Consulting and Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning Analytics & Dashboards (Student/Teacher/Admin Insights) (EDAFAFAA)

Keywords

• Education consultancy services
• Professional development training
• Digital learning solutions
• Early years education
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Education Consultancy Services: International consultancy for education policy reform, implementation of national programmes, and education transformation initiatives for ministries of government.
2. Digital Learning and Qualifications: Bespoke digital learning solutions, e-learning content creation, and industry-standard qualifications for businesses and governments worldwide.
3. Professional Development: Professional development programmes for educators, leadership training, and teacher mentoring programmes for government education sectors.
4. Apprenticeship Programmes: Apprenticeship delivery and workforce development programmes for UK employers across various sectors.
5. Curriculum Materials: Creation of digital and published curriculum materials and learning resources for schools and education institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cognition Learning Group is a global education services group delivering education consultancy, professional development for educators, early-years tutoring, digital learning solutions, and workforce development programmes through three operating brands (Cognition Education, Begin Bright, and Cognition Evolve). Its work spans policy reform support for ministries of education, school improvement, leadership training, apprenticeships and qualifications for employers, and curriculum development, supported by proprietary evidence-based methodologies such as Visible Learning Plus.

Product overview

Cognition Learning Group is a global provider of education, training, consultancy, and digital learning solutions operating as a multi-brand portfolio company. The group consists of three main sub-brands: Cognition Education (education consultancy services for governments, schools, and teachers), Begin Bright (early years education services and school preparation resources), and Cognition Evolve (bespoke learning solutions, professional training, and qualifications—formed by merging the acquired brands Wavelength Learning and Aspire Development). Additional offerings include proprietary methodologies like Visible Learning Plus professional development and Getting to G.O.L.D. framework, along with published research books on education implementation. The group delivers services across more than 30 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cognition Education: Global provider of leading consultancy services with focus on improving education outcomes for all learners. Works with ministries of education, schools and teachers to help drive up student success and close the equity gap.
• Begin Bright
• Cognition Evolve

Products and services

• Cognition Education

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 5.1 million+ learners and educators between April 2024 and March 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cognition Education TrustcoreOthers · 1 September 2022The company is 100% owned by the Cognition Education Trust. Profits contribute to the Trust who supports educational initiatives that draw on collaboration and evidence to increase capabilities of individuals and communities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Study Group: Global education pathway provider working with universities and governments to prepare international students for higher education. Comparable internationally focused education services firm; Cognition Board member Treacy Bell previously held senior people roles there.
• Education Development Trust: UK-based international education consultancy delivering government education programmes, school improvement, and teacher training across 30+ countries. Directly comparable to Cognition Education sub-brand and explicitly named as a former employer of Cognition's Group Director of Education.
• Wiley Education Services: Provider of online program management, corporate learning, and workforce development solutions for universities and businesses. Comparable in the digital learning and corporate training segments that Cognition Evolve addresses.
• Hatch Early Learning: Provider of early childhood education technology and curriculum, including digital learning resources for preschool and early-years classrooms. The most direct peer to Cognition's Begin Bright brand in the early-years education segment.

Others

• Promethean: Global education technology provider of interactive classroom displays and teaching software sold to schools and ministries. Adjacent peer — different product category but overlapping school and government buyer relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia Education: Global operator of premium international schools and education services. Comparable as a multinational education group; CEO Tina Lucas previously served as Managing Director here, indicating direct exposure to Cognition's market and operating model.
• Kaplan International: Global education and training provider offering language training, university pathway programmes, and professional qualifications. Comparable international footprint and educational services breadth to Cognition Learning Group.
• Cambridge Assessment International Education: Global provider of international qualifications, assessments, and curriculum frameworks with reach across 160+ countries. Operates adjacent to Cognition's curriculum and qualification work, particularly in government education reform programmes.
• Cognita Schools: Global schools group operating 80+ schools across 15 countries with supporting education services and consultancy. Comparable multinational education group with a similar portfolio of brands and government-facing work.
• GEMS Education: One of the world's largest K-12 private education operators with schools and consulting operations across multiple continents. Broader incumbent in international education services with comparable government and institutional client work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CognitionEdu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cognition-learning-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cognition Learning Group