How can insights from neuroscience transform not only how students learn, but how they engage with some of the biggest challenges facing our world today?

In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I am joined by Professor Paul Howard-Jones, a leading expert at the intersection of brain science, education and climate change education. Based at the University of Bristol, Paul’s work explores how understanding the brain can help us improve teaching, boost motivation and support more emotionally and cognitively engaged learning, including when it comes to complex global issues like climate change.

We talk about what really drives student motivation, why many popular ideas about the brain are actually myths and how to bridge the gap between research and classroom practice. Paul also shares how neuroscience can play a key role in helping young people not just learn about climate change, but feel empowered to act.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ Why motivation and reward are central to how the brain learns

✅ What common myths still shape teaching, and how to challenge them

✅ How teachers can be supported to turn learning science into classroom practice

✅ How insights from neuroscience can shape more impactful climate change education

✅ What parents can do to foster deeper, more engaged learning at home

Whether you’re curious about how your child learns, or how education can prepare young people for a rapidly changing world, this conversation is full of insight, evidence and practical wisdom.

🔗 Links & Resources

📚 Explore Paul’s work and his podcast Mind, Brain and Planet https://linktr.ee/mindbrainplanet

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mind-brain-and-planet/id1776174197

Paul’s Research Profile https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-a-howard-jones

Mind, Brain and Planet Blog https://mindbrainplanet.com/

Evolution of the Learning Brain Book by Professor Paul Howard-Jones

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on learning, neuroscience and academic success.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does your child seem more anxious, overwhelmed or avoidant as exams approach?

In this episode, I unpack what exam stress really looks like, and why revision season is often the peak point for overwhelm. Because it’s not just about workload. It’s about uncertainty, comparison and the mental toll of trying to “get it all done.”

You’ll learn why students overestimate what they can achieve in a day, why they avoid doing exam questions (even when they know they should) and how simple routines can dramatically reduce cognitive stress. I’ll also share the trap of comparing progress to others and how to help your child tune out the noise and focus on their own academic journey.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ What academic stress really is and why it builds during the revision phase

✅ How the planning fallacy tricks students into overloading their schedule

✅ The science behind why retrieval practice is hard and why that’s precisely what deepens learning

✅ Why rest, rhythm and routine aren’t just helpful, but essential for learning

✅ How to help your child resist comparison and focus on what actually works

Whether your child is feeling the pressure already or you’re anticipating a stressful few weeks ahead, this episode will give you the insight and tools to support them effectively.

🔗 Links & Resources

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever heard your child say, “I just can’t remember any of this,” and felt unsure what to do next?

In this episode, I unpack why so many students struggle with memory and what we, as parents and educators, can do to help. Because memory isn’t just about trying harder. It’s a skill that can be strengthened with the right strategies and support.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ How memory works, including working memory, long-term memory and retrieval

✅ Why students often struggle to retain information, even when they’ve “revised”

✅ The impact of stress, sleep and nutrition on the brain’s ability to learn

✅ Practical memory-boosting strategies I use in academic coaching

Whether your child is revising for exams or just trying to keep up with day-to-day learning, this episode will help you understand how memory works and what you can do to support it in a way that builds confidence, independence and motivation.

🔗 Links & Resources

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.