Course
Challenge
Embed challenge at the heart of classroom learning.
Rethinking what this course is about
This course is about designing a classroom where challenge is normalised, welcomed and purposeful. Together, we look at mindset, language, environment and lesson design so children grow their capacity to persevere and seek stretch in their learning.
Co-created with James Nottingham, we move beyond “harder work” to a thoughtful, sustainable approach: small, deliberate shifts that make challenge visible, safe and attractive for learners.
Why this course matters
When challenge is intentional, students think more deeply, stay engaged for longer and make better progress. This isn’t about raising the bar for the sake of it; it’s about helping children enjoy the process of the grapple, reflect on what is tricky and build the habits that carry them through new situations. You’ll align ethos, routines, lesson structure and language so challenge is part of everyday learning.
Who this course is for
This course is ideal if you are:
- An educator placing challenge at the centre of classroom culture
- A leader supporting staff to develop consistent, practical approaches to challenge
- Anyone wanting tried-and-tested strategies you can implement in small steps over time
- Time-poor and keen for concise ideas that build progressively across a term
Meet your guides
James Nottingham
Teacher, leader and consultant; creator of the Learning Pit; author of multiple books for teachers, leaders and parents. James brings a clear, research-informed way to make challenge more appealing and productive for learners.
Becky Carlzon
Facilitator and co-author of Powering Up Children. Becky connectsthe ideas to day-to-day practice, with prompts, examples and space to reflect together as you try things in your context.
+ PLUS!
Two “live” online sessions with James
going deeper into challenge, including:
Targeted sessions on the Learning Pit and lesson structure for challenge - Getting to the crux of teaching that promotes challenge.
Q and A opportunities with James to target yours and your team's grapples.
What you’ll explore
Across the course we explore language, routines, structures and environments that encourage students to step into stretch. You’ll see how to use questions, sentence stems, and lesson design to support struggle safely, and how to document learning so progress is visible to everyone.
Over 22 units you’ll explore:
22 Units
Short, focused provocations from James, Becky and guests.
Reflection Prompts
Try a small shift, notice what changes, repeat.
Video provocations
James and Becky explore and explain concepts in engaging, connected videos
Planning Tools
Download templates to plan, review and refine.
Book Study
One guided study to deepen ideas together.
Author Q&A
Bonus recorded session with James Nottingham.
And Updated for 2026 - we added 4 new units on:
Fixed and Growth Mindset
Quality Praise and Feedback
Introducing The Leaning Pit
Philosophy for children
What makes this course different
It’s deliberately incremental. Each unit offers one focused idea. You try it, reflect, and layer it with the next. You’ll also be able to share progress in the comments, ask questions and get support from me and other members and our team as you go. The aim is steady, real change in how your classroom invites and sustains challenge.
Challenge Myths Debunked!
Sign up to debunk and take action on 6 Myths about challenging learning resulting in:
- More aligned actions conducive to challenge
- Conscious competence in challenging practice
- Tips, tricks, insights from James Nottingham, Becky Carlzon, Guy Claxton and more!
What’s included
•
22 self-paced units with short video provocations (James, Becky and guests)
•
Reflection prompts and classroom examples you can adapt immediately
•
Downloadable tools to plan and review changes
•
Community comments for questions, feedback and shared learning
•
Bonus recorded Q&A with James Nottingham
•
1 book study to deepen ideas over time
•
10 videos across the series
•
PLUS! Two “live” online sessions with James going deeper into Challenge
Course Outline
- Welcome and Introduction
- What is “challenging learning”?
- Language and challenge – Part 1
- Making mistakes
- Metacognitive questions
- Changing lesson structure to promote challenge
- Preview – creating a supportive lesson structure
- Language and challenge – Part 2
- Moral decisions and changing opinion
- Sentence stems and “wobblers”
- Tools for effective dialogue
- Reflecting on the journey of learning
- The Learning Environment and challenge
- Play and challenge for all ages
- And more
What you’ll walk away with
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
Build a classroom ethos where challenge is explicit and shared
Use precise language and questions to support productive struggle
Structure lessons and environments that invite stretch, not avoidance
Help students reflect on grapples and notice progress over time
"...quite simply the best professional learning I have received in my 30 years of experience."
Fiona Chapman
Head of Teaching and Learning, Leadership Mastermind member
Pricing & Enrollment
Pricing & Enrollment
Ready to join James in this fabulous opportunity to challenge your team into meaningful learning?
These are some of you investment options*:
*We never want money to hold back learning so we are offering equity discounts to those on a tighter budget. Email Becky Carlzon for more details.
Use this form for multiple sign-ups
After filing in your details, you'll receive an invoice for the amount required, places, and payment instructions.
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