High-Leverage Pedagogy: Small Tweaks, Big Gains
I’ve spent 35 years working in schools, moving from teaching assistant to teacher and leader. In that time, I’ve seen countless educational trends arrive with fanfare only to leave without impact.
In response, I show staff the precise, high-leverage tweaks that lead to the biggest gains. By dividing my time between teaching and consulting, I know exactly how to translate theory into classroom reality.
There are many ways in which I consult with educational settings. These are detailed below. The relative investment (as a percentage of my standard fees) for the different formats are as follows:
- 100%: PD Day (5.5hrs + breaks)
- 80%: Conference Keynote (45-90mins)
- 65%: Day of Model Lessons & After-School Review
- 60%: Half-Day PD Session (2.5hrs + break)
- 35%: Twilight Session (75-90mins)
- 20%: Live Webinar (75-90mins)
- 2-3% per person: Video Library Annual Subscription
For schools building a sustained partnership with James, long-term agreements attract an additional 25% reduction across all activities.
Bespoke Professional Learning
Motivate and inspire your team with professional learning that sticks. By combining research insights, conceptual clarity and practical strategies, James ensures every participant leaves with inspiration they can apply immediately.
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- Inclusive Design: Sessions are meticulously crafted for the entire pre-K-12 educational community. Whether staff work in early years, primary, middle or high schools – or as a teacher, leader or support staff – they will find the content deeply relevant.
- Flexible Delivery: From 90-minute twilight sessions to full-day workshops and multi-day institutes, James adapts to your schedule. Standard formats include half-days (up to 2.5 hours plus a break) and full-day interactive seminars (up to 5.5 hours plus breaks).
- The Value Package: Every booking is more than just a presentation; it is a complete learning experience including:
- Customized Content: A presentation built specifically for your context.
- Pre-Event Engagement: A preview video and curated pre-reading to prime your team.
- Post-Event Resources: A PDF of all session slides.
- Exclusive Access: A complimentary license code for all Learning Pit graphics.
Keynote Presentations
As a highly sought-after speaker, James delivers powerful keynotes that set the perfect tone for national and international conferences. He challenges and inspires the entire educational community—from teaching and support staff to leaders, administrators and board members.
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- Universal Appeal: James seamlessly connects with educators across all phases (Pre-K to 12+), including preschool, primary, secondary and college levels.
- Collaborative Hosting: To maximise impact and share costs, James encourages hosts to invite neighboring schools and networks.
- Duration: 45 to 90 minutes.
- Audience Size: James has often keynoted conferences with 2000-4000 staff as well as those in the hundreds.
- Previous Engagements: click here [scroll to botrom of the JN page] to view a selection of the events James has keynote, all to critical acclaim.
Model Lessons
James is a rare breed of consultant who doesn’t just suggest strategies; he proves them. Whether working with three-year-olds, primary or high schools students, or those in alternative provision, James provides demonstrations that bring his recommendations to life in your specific school context.
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- Preview, Demonstrate, Review: For maximum impact, James uses a three-step cycle, including a 15-minute briefing for observing staff, a live lesson lasting 20–70 minutes, and a dedicated review session for Q&A. To ensure long-term value, schools are encouraged to record these sessions for future in-house training.
- How many staff can watch? As many as your space—and your students—can comfortably accommodate! In Early Years settings, James recommeneds keeping things intimate with small groups of children and adults to ensure the sessions are constructive. Whereas, in primary and high schools, it’s usual to go much larger; many schools use ‘fishbowl’ style setups or double classrooms so that dozens of staff can watch James in action with a full class.
Webinars
James brings the inspiration of a live keynote to the screen, offering a versatile digital experience that fits your school’s schedule and budget.
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- Interactive by Design: Drawing on the experience of 500+ global webinars, James uses an engaging delivery style that keeps staff focused on learning from start to finish.
- Flexible Formats:
- Individual: Staff join from their own devices for a personalised experience.
- Blended: Teams gather around a single projection to encourage turn and talks and collaborative planning.
- Studio: James presents from a professional stage to your entire online audience.
- Record & Replay: Every session can be recorded, allowing you to build a custom training library for future use.
- PD-OD Member Benefits Subscribers to James’s video library enjoy free admission to monthly webinars as well as ‘Ask James’ events – interactive Q&A follow-ups that help to solve your specific classroom challenges.
Coaching
With a dual background as a school leader and the founding director of international companies across seven countries, James offers a rare perspective on organisational growth. He provides high-level coaching for individuals, leadership teams and community groups, specialising in both strategic leadership and high-impact pedagogy.
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- Goal Alignment: Refine your ‘Why, What, and How’ while establishing clear, actionable timelines for pedagogy.
- Strategic Communication: Build engagement through sharpened messaging and polished presentations.
- A Trusted Sounding Board: Navigate sensitive or complex organisational issues in a confidential, judgement-free space.
- Mastering Nuance: Move beyond surface-level fixes to understand the contradictions and nuances of real-world, pedagogical implementation.
James offers limited coaching capacity outside of his long-term projects—ideal for individuals ready to progress even if their organisation isn’t yet. The recommended approach is an initial series of six 60-minute online sessions.
Community Engagement
James bridges the gap between the classroom and the home, ensuring that parents, governors/board members and community are equipped with the insights needed to support student learning.
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With over 300 community presentations to his credit, James is an expert at translating educational theory into practical home strategies. Popular sessions include:
- The Comfort Zone: How to encourage children to embrace challenges willingly.
- Homework Reimagined: The essential do’s and don’ts of home-based support.
- The Praise Trap: Why certain types of encouragement can actually decrease determination.
- The Magic of ‘Figuring it Out’: Promoting independence, critical thinking and a growth mindset.
On Demand Videos
In an era of busy schedules and diverse needs, professional learning must be as flexible as it is effective. PD-OD is James’s signature video library, designed to provide educators with instant access to world-class pedagogical strategies whenever—and wherever—they need them.
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Why Choose PD-OD?
- A Growing Library: Access a comprehensive collection of high-quality video modules covering every aspect of pedagogy and leadership. From quick ‘Tuesday morning’ tips to deep-dive sessions, the library is being updated every month with new content.
- The All-Access Pass: A subscription doesn’t just give you a login; it invites you into a community. Members gain free access to:
- Monthly Live Webinars: Deep dives into timely educational topics.
- Ask James Sessions: Exclusive opportunities to get direct feedback on your specific classroom or leadership challenges.
- Built for Teams: PD-OD is designed to fuel your Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Use the videos as a catalyst for staff room discussions, co-planning sessions or individual growth pathways.
- Any Device, Anywhere: Whether your team is learning together on a big screen during or catching up individually on a mobile device, the content is focused on transforming the most up-to-date and impressive research into practical strategies that make an important difference to all students.
Longer- Term Projects
While keynotes spark inspiration, James’s long-term support transforms that spark into lasting change. By acting as a guide and practitioner, James ensures your school makes measurable progress toward your shared vision.
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- Evidence Collection: James provides a fresh pair of eyes, observing learning and recording conversations with students. Drawing on his global experience, he offers a clear roadmap toward excellence based on your specific context.
- Authentic Voice: Leveraging his ability to build trust quickly, James gathers honest insights from staff, students and parents. These conversations are recorded and provided as anonymised transcripts, giving leaders a rare, unfiltered look at growth opportunities.
- Embedded Coaching & Guidance: This is hands-on support at every level—from co-planning and co-teaching to troubleshooting with senior leaders and aligning parents with school goals.
Core Components of Long-Term Support include:
Tailored Investment: James works within your specific budget, designing a bespoke support package that maximises your return on investment
