Back in January, I wrote about ‘Making the Magic Happen in 2026’. Since then, the weather has seemed determined to test that optimism. The rain has been relentless, and at times the year has felt more grey than glittering. But perhaps that is when magic matters most.

Real magic is not sunshine-dependent. It is the steady confidence of a community that knows who it is and why it does what it does. If anything, these damp weeks have sharpened my conviction: the magic at Claires Court is built daily — deliberately, consistently and together. I’ve attended almost every parents’ evening over the past 3 weeks, sat through concerts, stood on the muddy touchlines, and led some assemblies, too. Indeed, so much has sparkled. 

My commitment to leading this school is both professional and deeply personal. Founded in 1960 by my parents, David and Josephine Wilding, Claires Court has shaped my life. My brother Hugh and I were among the first 19 pupils to walk through its doors, and for over 45 years—now well into our fifth decade of leadership—we have had the privilege of guiding this community. This is not simply a role; it is a calling.

We have not just led the school — we have lived it. Our own children were educated here before heading to university, equipped with resilience, confidence and the ability to communicate and lead. Now, as I welcome my grandchildren, that circle begins again, reinforcing my determination to preserve the “village” that sustains us.

Yet warmth alone is not enough. Parents choose Claires Court for the uncompromising quality of our academic education. Community gives us heart; intellectual rigour gives our students their future. Whether joining at 11+, 16+, or leaving after Sixth Form, every pupil is here to develop the mastery that unlocks the next stage of life — not simply to pass tests, but to thrive beyond them.

We also understand the “independence paradox”. As young people grow, they seek space — sometimes wishing their parents invisible at the school gate — even as academic pressures intensify. Our task is to honour that independence while ensuring no student walks alone. We provide structure, expectation and encouragement, allowing pupils to feel ownership of their success, supported quietly but firmly in the background.

The magic lives in how we bridge childhood and adulthood. A moment on stage or on the sports field may begin in joy, but it develops discipline, courage and teamwork. Play evolves into character. By the time our students leave, they do so not only as capable scholars but as grounded young adults who carry the strength of their village with them.

After fifteen years of blogging, one might ask what becomes of a story when its original author steps aside. At Claires Court, the answer is simple: the story was never about one pen. It lives in second-and third-generation families, among former pupils who return as parents and staff, and in values that outlast individuals.

The rain will pass. We can only hope – next week is Half-Term!

The magic endures — because it is written collectively, by a community that continues to shape its future, whatever the forecast.