Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

‘Death is swallowed up in Victory’ – The Reverend James Wilding 1781 – 1863

Posted on 22/05/2025 by jameswilding

During this term, and not for the first time as part of the Year 3 curriculum, they have been studying the history of Claires Court School, and as a consequence of their searches of old magazines etc. the year group … Continue reading →

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“Conversation is a catalyst for innovation.” – John Seely Brown*

Posted on 16/05/2025 by jameswilding

Our annual Parent survey assists us – Principals and Heads – in hearing the voices of our customers, celebrating the successes and noting the ‘pointers for improvement’ as appropriate. All our staff met at the start of this term with … Continue reading →

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Lamplight of Peace – lessons from VE Day

Posted on 09/05/2025 by jameswilding

80 years ago, over 5 million British men and women were recruited into the armed forces and deployed across the world. Thursday, 8 May 1945, saw Germany’s formal unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War 2 in Europe. While … Continue reading →

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Diversity in the curriculum matters 2025

Posted on 01/05/2025 by jameswilding

How do we educate our children to take their place in the Economies of the 21st Century, given that we can’t anticipate what the economy will look like at the end of next week?  I aim to answer what Claires … Continue reading →

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Academic Principal’s Blog 25 April 2025

Posted on 24/04/2025 by jameswilding

Firstly, may I give all of our parents, guardians and supporters a warm welcome back to school for the Summer Term. To those 14 new children and their families joining Claires Court this week, I can assure you of the … Continue reading →

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The best teacher I ever had – Professor James Tootle Reason RIP 4 February 2025

Posted on 23/04/2025 by jameswilding

The very nature of Humans is that we make mistakes, and most of the time, not deliberately. During the early introduction of ejector seats, the list of instructions to the pilot was firmly glued to the canopy. When identifying why … Continue reading →

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Academic Principal Review of the Spring Term 2025

Posted on 03/04/2025 by jameswilding

Everyone in school looks forward to the second half of the Spring Term; not only are the dark days of winter behind us, but we still have everyone in full productivity mode, to the extent that this School Principal finds … Continue reading →

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In an era of ‘fake news’ the role of trained and professional journalists has never been more important. Wes Streeting Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, MP for Ilford 

Posted on 28/03/2025 by jameswilding

I will have been one of many millions this week who chose to watch and listen carefully to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on Wednesday, to glean as best I could what the near and medium term economic future for the … Continue reading →

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“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Attr. Albert Einstein

Posted on 20/03/2025 by jameswilding

Whether the inventor of 20th-century physics actually said the above is of course neither here nor there. What’s true to understand is that ‘if we are what we repeatedly do’, then it’s best we as humans don’t keep doing that … Continue reading →

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Changemaking in this Diamond era – how to meet the challenge!

Posted on 14/03/2025 by jameswilding

This Wednesday, I spent the morning with Robert Hardman, journalist and author, providing insight on how independent schools are meeting the multiplicity of challenges brought on by a change in government, taxation, employer costs in a wider landscape of falling … Continue reading →

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