Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

Academic Principal Claires Court Schools Long term member & advocate of the Independent Schools Association

Let your light shine so brightly that others can see their way out of the dark.” — Katrina Mayer

Posted on 13/03/2026 by jameswilding

Reflecting on the milestone year to date of 2026, I find myself looking at the long arc of my journey alongside Claires Court. Earlier this year, I shared thoughts on “Making the Magic Happen”—observing those quiet, vital moments in our … Continue reading →

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Fifty Years and Counting: Leadership, Management and Teaching Through the Ages — A Précis

Posted on 05/03/2026 by jameswilding

The image in the header celebrates the occasion of the Claires Court Boat Club’s Annual Dinner on Saturday, 7 March 2026. Whatever the drama, school life carries on. The Headteachers’ Association I am a member of, and as a consequence … Continue reading →

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The Author, the Village, and the Paradox of Independence

Posted on 12/02/2026 by jameswilding

On Monday 23 February, my brother and I announced that the ownership of Claires Court Schools Ltd. had moved from the Wilding family over the the Licensed Trade Charity, a venerable organisation established in 1793 to support children and families … Continue reading →

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The Morning After VAT: From Panic to Adjustment in the Independent Sector

Posted on 03/02/2026 by jameswilding

I’ve written the following thought piece to illustrate there are no easy answers for anyone in the education space in 2026. Probably true for most ‘human’ providers, from farmers, through care and health to pubs and the hospitality trade. The … Continue reading →

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Play Is Not a Luxury — It’s a Higher Form of Learning

Posted on 27/01/2026 by jameswilding

For fifty years, I have witnessed the evolution of education from the classroom frontlines. As a headteacher, I introduced the National Curriculum with optimism, only to see later reforms push high-stakes testing and diminish children’s creative writing. In response, my … Continue reading →

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‘Blue Monday’ and Mr Wilding’s “Pub Choir” challenge – 9 am Monday 16 March 2026

Posted on 22/01/2026 by jameswilding

As any of my staff, current pupils and Alumni know, I do love a good school assembly. This Monday (19 January), I had the distinct pleasure of leading a school assembly for our Senior Girls that combined the historical intrigue … Continue reading →

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Purpose, Pride, and a Few Extra Kit Bags

Posted on 15/01/2026 by jameswilding

Audio overview blog With every New Year comes hopes and aspirations, though perhaps, like the sunshine this week, they peek through a watery sky. The playing fields at Claires Court Juniors may look similar to those elsewhere in the neighbourhood, … Continue reading →

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“Making the ‘Magic’ happen in 2026.”

Posted on 08/01/2026 by jameswilding

Link to Podcast discussion Claires Court Academic Faculty returned for the school-wide in-service training this week, held in the Baylis Theatre at Braywick Leisure Centre in Maidenhead. In our lead presentations and age-range-specific workshops, building relationships, resilience, and quality feedback … Continue reading →

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The Academic Vacuum: Why Test Scores Aren’t Enough to Save Our Children

Posted on 22/12/2025 by jameswilding

In my fifty years in education, I have watched the pendulum of school reform swing back and forth with dizzying speed. We have seen the rise of the “knowledge-rich” curriculum and a laser-like focus on the “core” subjects of English, … Continue reading →

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 Beyond the Breaking Point: Concluding 2025 and Challenges Ahead in 2026.

Posted on 18/12/2025 by jameswilding

Another year closes, and the festive flurry attempts to cloak the underlying tension and exhaustion that have permeated the English education system. As the clock ticks down to 2025, many of us in schools, whether we are Principals, teachers, or … Continue reading →

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