Two teachers. One shared vision.
We first started our teaching careers together as newly qualified teachers in 2012.
Since then, our professional journeys have taken us in different directions, giving us experience across education, community and professional settings.
Now, we’ve brought that experience back together to create North Challenge Learning — an independent alternative provision built around nurture, relationships and meaningful progress.
We believe every young person deserves to be known, understood and given the opportunity to move forward.
Meet the Team
Janine Jameson
Co-founder | Teacher and Youth Worker
Janine is a qualified primary teacher with experience across education, youth work and mentoring, as well as ten years of service in the Royal Navy.
She is passionate about creating positive relationships while setting high expectations and appropriately challenging young people to recognise their strengths, build resilience and achieve their potential. With a particular interest in Functional Skills, outdoor learning and physical activity, Janine uses practical and engaging experiences to build confidence, independence and essential skills for everyday life and future employment.
As an active parkrun volunteer, she strongly believes in the positive impact of physical activity, community and achievement on young people’s wellbeing and personal development.
Joanna Hepplewhite
Co-founder | Teacher
Joanna is a qualified teacher with a degree in Childhood Studies and extensive experience teaching from Reception to Year 6, with particular strengths in English and maths.
She has significant experience supporting pupils with SEND and working with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Joanna combines a nurturing approach with high expectations, providing the right level of support and challenge to help young people overcome barriers, make progress and experience success.
Her calm, individualised approach helps pupils rebuild confidence in learning while developing the core skills, resilience and independence they need for their next steps.
Why North Challenge Learning?
We created North Challenge Learning because we believe alternative provision should be about more than simply providing somewhere else for a young person to learn.
For some young people, mainstream education hasn’t worked for them. They may have experienced disrupted education, lost confidence, struggled with attendance or found it difficult to engage.
We believe the starting point is relationship.
By creating a safe, supportive and consistent environment, we can take the time to understand each young person and identify what they need to re-engage with learning.
Nurture – Build Trust – Move Forward
These three principles underpin everything we do.
Our Approach
Relationships come first
Nurture creates the foundation
We take time to get to know each young person and understand their individual strengths, interests, needs and barriers to learning.
We provide a calm, consistent and supportive environment where young people can rebuild confidence and develop positive relationships with learning.
Progress matters
Moving forward
We work with each young person to set meaningful goals and develop the academic, personal and practical skills they need for their next step.
Our aim is progression — whether that’s improved engagement, increased confidence, academic progress, reintegration, college, training or another appropriate pathway.