James A. Nottingham

James A. Nottingham is a British educator, consultant, and author best known as the creator of the Learning Pit, a widely used model that helps students understand challenge, cognitive conflict, and deeper learning. He has more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education, having worked as a teaching assistant, teacher, and school and district leader across primary, middle, and secondary settings. Nottingham is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and has been listed in The Future 500 as one of the UK’s most forward-thinking and creative innovators.

Nottingham is the author of multiple books on teaching, learning, and leadership, including Teach Brilliantly: Small Shifts That Lead to Big Gains in Student Learning, The Learning Challenge: How to Guide Your Students Through the Learning Pit to Achieve Deeper Understanding, and Challenging Learning Through Feedback: How to Get the Type, Tone and Quality of Feedback Right Every Time. His work focuses on challenge, dialogue, feedback, growth mindset, and the practical application of educational research in classrooms. He continues to work internationally as a keynote speaker and in-school consultant, supporting educators to use the Learning Pit and related strategies to deepen student learning.