James Nottingham is an internationally recognised key note speaker, trainer and presenter. With an extensive background in education, James is dedicated to creating world-class schools through teaching, learning, creativity and leadership.
James Nottingham, the MD of Sustained Success, has broad experience of organisational learning and leadership development, is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the direct teaching of thinking and is a sought-after keynote speaker, writer and trainer.
Starting out as an industrial quality controller, James went on to become a sports coach for deaf teenagers after having completed some volunteer work in apartheid South Africa. He later qualified as a teacher and as head of department, led the development of the direct teaching of thinking across the curriculum. This significant work became an integral part of the new National Curriculum in England and Wales. In 1999, James featured in a nationally televised documentary on teaching thinking that helped develop a network of more than 3,000 teachers who continue to use these successful strategies to raise achievement and innovation.
In September 2000, James co-founded a social enterprise project to regenerate areas of North East England characterised by under-employment, low aspirations and lack of community engagement (RAIS). This grew into a multi-million pound initiative working with key stakeholders from education, business and community groups across the UK. In 2005 James collected an award in recognition of the outstanding contribution the project had made to the raising of young people’s aspirations, enterprising attitudes and achievements.
Today, James supports schools and networks across the world to raise the achievement and aspirations of all learners.