Measuring meaningful progress
At North Challenge Learning, we believe meaningful progress starts with understanding the young person.
Every young person has a different starting point, different strengths and different barriers to learning. We take the time to understand these and use them to create clear, individual goals.
We look at more than academic achievement.
We consider engagement, confidence, relationships, personal development, learning and progression.
Our Experience
Experience that informs our approach
North Challenge Learning is a new independent provider, but our experience of working with young people is not new.
Our backgrounds include education, youth work and mentoring, giving us experience of supporting young people through different challenges and helping them develop confidence, skills and positive pathways.
The experiences we’ve had working with young people have shaped the approach we bring to North Challenge Learning today.
What We Measure
Academic Progress
- Baseline assessment
- Progress against identified learning needs
- Achievement of individual targets
- Assessment results where relevant
Engagement
- Attendance
- Participation
- Consistency
- Willingness to engage
- Ability to sustain attention
Confidence & Personal Development
- Confidence
- Communication
- Independence
- Teamwork
- Problem solving
- Motivation
- Positive routines
Youth Work & Mentoring
Where appropriate, our approach can support young people to:
- Develop confidence
- Set and work towards goals
- Recognise their strengths
- Develop positive routines
- Build relationships
- Explore interests and aspirations
- Develop independence
- Prepare for future opportunities
Progression
Progress might include:
- Improved engagement with education
- Progress towards qualifications
- Increased confidence and independence
- Reintegration into education
- Progression to college
- Training or employment
- Another appropriate next step
From Starting Point to Outcome
We will document the journey of each young person:
1. STARTING POINT
Understanding the young person’s current skills, strengths, interests and barriers.
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2. IDENTIFY NEEDS
Understanding what is preventing them from engaging or progressing.
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3. SET GOALS
Agreeing clear, realistic and meaningful outcomes.
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4. PROVIDE SUPPORT
Delivering personalised education, nurture, mentoring and practical opportunities where appropriate.
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5. MONITOR
Tracking attendance, engagement, learning and personal development.
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6. REVIEW
Reflecting on progress and adapting support where necessary.
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7. OUTCOME
Identifying the difference made against the young person’s starting point.
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8. NEXT STEP
Supporting the young person towards their next appropriate pathway.
Building Our Evidence
We believe evidence should tell the whole story.
Alongside measurable outcomes, we may gather:
- Baseline and final assessments
- Attendance information
- Progress against individual targets
- Examples of completed work
- Young person’s feedback
- Parent/carer feedback
- School or professional feedback
- Review records
- Progression outcomes
- Anonymised case studies
We will only share identifiable information, photographs or direct quotations with appropriate consent.
Why Impact Matters
We don’t want to simply tell schools that our approach works.
We want to be able to demonstrate it.
As a small, independent provider, we are committed to knowing each young person, understanding their starting point and being able to show the progress they make.
Because sometimes progress is a qualification.
Sometimes it is returning to school.
Sometimes it is attending regularly, finding confidence, making a friend, trying something new or believing in themselves again.
Every step forward matters.