On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by cognitive psychologist and bestselling author Professor Daniel Willingham to explore how insights from cognitive science can transform classroom practice. The conversation ranges from his influential book Why Don’t Students Like School? to the enduring truth that “memory is the residue of thought.” Together, they discuss the power of narrative in learning, the balance between shallow and deep knowledge, and why repetition and practice still matter. Dan also unpacks key ideas like encoding, cognitive load, and the role of manipulatives, offering practical advice for helping students think deeply and retain what they learn. The episode is a rich, thought-provoking exploration of how the mind works, critical thinking, and their implications for education.

Daniel Willingham is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1992. Until about 2000, his research focused solely on the brain basis of learning and memory. Today, all of his research concerns the application of cognitive psychology to K-16 education. He is the author of several books, including the best-selling Why Don't Students Like School?, and most recently, Outsmart Your Brain. His writing on education has appeared in twenty-three languages. ​In 2017 he was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Member of the National Board for Education Sciences. View his website at http://www.danielwillingham.com/

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/