About Northwell
20 years of education experience. One belief: every young person can move forward.
Northwell Education was founded by two experienced educators who have spent their careers working with vulnerable and disengaged young people in and around Leeds. We created Northwell because we believed we could build something truly great for them.
We are the village
It takes a village to raise a child. We are that village.
At Northwell, we do not just teach. We show up. Every single day, for every single young person who walks through our doors. We know their names, their stories, their struggles and their strengths. We celebrate the small wins and we stay steady through the hard days.
We believe that when a young person feels genuinely known and genuinely cared for, something shifts. Confidence grows. Curiosity returns. The future starts to feel possible again.
That is what we mean when we say we are the village. Not a service. Not a provision. A community that wraps around every learner and holds them up.
Engage. Empower. Excel.
Engage
We meet young people exactly where they are. No judgement, no pressure. Just a warm, consistent presence that makes it safe to try again.
Empower
We build the confidence, skills and self-belief that young people need to take ownership of their own futures. Every project, every conversation, every step forward is theirs.
Excel
We hold high expectations because we know what our learners are capable of. We celebrate every achievement and push gently for the next one.
Meet the team
Northwell is built on experience, passion and a genuine belief that every young person can move forward.
Leonna
Co-founder and Director
Leonna brings over 20 years of experience across early years, primary, secondary and further education. A specialist in performing arts, she has taught and led creative and performance-based provision throughout her career, working with some of the most disengaged and vulnerable young people in Leeds. Her expertise in re-engagement, behaviour management and nurturing relationships is at the heart of Northwell's approach. With a genuine passion for supporting every child, she is committed to creating safe, inclusive and nurturing environments where every young person feels valued, understood and able to thrive. She believes in recognising each child's individual needs, building confidence and resilience, and ensuring every learner has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Both Leonna and Christina bring significant managerial experience, having led teams, programmes and provisions throughout their careers. Alongside Christina, she recently led a highly successful two-year programme for NEET learners, achieving outstanding outcomes and positive destinations for every participant.
Christina
Co-founder and Director
Christina began her career in a legal background before moving into further education, where she found her calling working with vulnerable and challenging learners. She has taught in colleges, community settings and prisons, developing a rare depth of understanding of the barriers young people face. Her specialism in pastoral care and behaviour management means she brings both warmth and structure to every learner relationship. She is deeply committed to creating environments where young people feel safe, respected and genuinely believed in. Both Christina and Leonna bring significant managerial experience, having led teams, programmes and provisions throughout their careers. Together with Leonna, she co-led a highly successful two-year programme for NEET learners, achieving outstanding outcomes and positive destinations for every participant. Christina brings warmth, rigour and an unshakeable belief in every learner she works with.
What we stand for
Northwell runs like a village. Everyone knows each other, looks out for each other and takes pride in the place they share. Our values are not a list on a wall. They are how we live and work together every day.
Village community
We are a small, close-knit community where every young person is known by name, welcomed from day one and genuinely part of something.
Respect for one another
We expect everyone — staff and learners alike — to treat each other with honesty, kindness and dignity. That respect goes both ways, always.
Belonging
No one is on the outside here. We work hard to make sure every young person feels they have a place and a purpose at Northwell.
Belief
We hold high expectations for every learner, even when they have stopped holding them for themselves.
Pride in progress
We celebrate every step forward, however small. Growth looks different for every young person and we recognise all of it.
Our approach
Small groups
We keep groups small so every learner gets the attention, challenge and support they need.
Structured progression
Three clear terms take learners from re-engagement through vocational learning to nationally recognised qualifications.
The whole person
Beyond the Classroom runs throughout every term, developing the life skills and wellbeing that sit alongside academic and vocational progress.
Clear next steps
Every learner leaves with a plan. Whether that is further education, training, an apprenticeship or employment, we make sure they are ready for it.
Maintained, academy and independent schools across Leeds placing students with us as an alternative to exclusion or managed move.
Commissioned placements for young people who are NEET or at risk, coordinated through SEND and inclusion teams.
Parents and carers who have identified Northwell as the right environment and want to discuss a self-referral.
Ready to discuss a referral?
If you think Northwell Education could be the right fit for a young person you work with or care for, we would love to hear from you.