Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

“Everything’s already been said, but since nobody was listening, we have to start again.” Gide

Posted on 04/01/2015 by jameswilding

I recently read a straight talking blog by Barry Smith that made me laugh out loud and made my day. You see I think teaching is really hard and that education is the most complex of industries. And to be … Continue reading →

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2014 in review – A Principled view

Posted on 30/12/2014 by jameswilding

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 9,200 times in 2014. If it were a … Continue reading →

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What we can learn from other parents – Michael Rosen, Margaret Goldthorpe and Anne Atkins.

Posted on 24/12/2014 by jameswilding

At the start of the Autumn Term 2014, the Guardian Newspaper ran an article on Michael Rosen, Poet, former children’s laureate, broadcaster and scourge of the Coalition government, to coincide with the publication of his latest book, Good Ideas: How to … Continue reading →

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‘An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending upon the talent that rubs against it’ – Matsuo Basho, 1644-1694

Posted on 17/12/2014 by jameswilding

As this Autumn term 2014 closes, it does so with newsletter, publications and reports galore for parents and pupils to read and enjoy.  Some of the creative writing in the Christmas edition of Scribblings is quite extraordinary, capturing in very … Continue reading →

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A perfect storm is brewing…

Posted on 12/12/2014 by jameswilding

A perfect storm is brewing within the Education community around English curriculum assessment, examination, marking and reporting. Michael Gove probably lost his job directly because of it, and his successor, Nicky Morgan is already in trouble over it with the … Continue reading →

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What do we need to know? Legendary producer John Lloyd thinks he knows…

Posted on 18/11/2014 by jameswilding

The remarkable mind that brought you QI, Blackadder and Spitting Image asks one of the world’s simplest but most significant questions – what do we really need to know? What should we teach our children, and what important information should … Continue reading →

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If you want to go fast, travel alone. If you want to go far, travel together.

Posted on 13/11/2014 by jameswilding

I used this phrase at the end of the summer term 2014, to highlight that our work as a school is always more effective in the long run when we work in consort. Currently we are mid-term, with a whole … Continue reading →

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“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning” – Albert Einstein.

Posted on 01/11/2014 by jameswilding

  Over half-term, I visited the Tower of London to see the Tower of London Remembers evolving installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’.  Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies have … Continue reading →

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Why is Curiosity central to better learning?

Posted on 24/10/2014 by jameswilding

The wide-ranging debate on identifying effective teaching is inspiring. What concerns me is the disconnect between each year. Children can have 5 years of primary education with admired teachers in each year, yet seem to join secondary school having lost … Continue reading →

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The future is coming faster than you think?

Posted on 17/10/2014 by jameswilding

Welcome, dear Reader to my ‘Start of Half-Term’ blog. Since last I wrote, some 1500 adults and children have attended our annual fireworks event, held at CCJB up at Maidenhead Thicket, managed to spend over £11,000 thus assisting our PTA … Continue reading →

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