Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

Is it a case of ‘the younger, the better’ for children learning a new language, or indeed, anything?

I love reading research. It’s the academic in me, I guess, speaking here, because without an evidence base, you can’t actually prove your point. And unless the evidence base is large, inclusive, sustained over a period of years, and the … Continue reading

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“Genes load the gun, but environment pulls the trigger” – Lessons from Medicine that need to move into Education.

There is a rising tide of mental health issues across the world, affecting most age groups, influencing young people irrespective or race, colour or gender. There’s also a matching growth of opinion that suggests that the causation of these problems arises because … Continue reading

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Developing wider employability skills – the Magnificent Seven.

A new Parliament, a re-arranged set of ministers, and we see both in national press and education journals the re-opening of a variety of debates that have been with us all my teaching lifetime. Some writers, such as Will Hutton … Continue reading

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“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else” James M. Barrie

The last seven days support my eternal, relentless optimism that good things happen in handfuls for those that get stuck in. Continue reading

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“Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose.” – G.K. Nielson

Parent Ambassadors and PTA supporters – don’t you just love them! Continue reading

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‘A day in the Life of a CCJB’ – How school environment matters.

Those whose reading list includes the Claires Court Sixth Form Bulletin will know their newsletter has been running with a Thomas Edison quote this term – ‘Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The certain way to succeed is always to try … Continue reading

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“You don’t need the eyes to see; you need vision.”

David Wilding, my father, was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in his late 20s, was warned that he might be blind within 5 years, but happily kept his sight (albeit ever decreasing) for another 50. In 1960, he left the … Continue reading

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Time for the development of a Parent Ambassador programme…”Claires Court Parent Voice”?

Claires Court Ambassador Programme ­ “Parent Voice” Proposals It is an interesting truism in life that if you want something done, do it yourself. Actually, it is a Factoid – one of those oft repeated phrases that becomes true because … Continue reading

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Satire should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable

It’s election day and all over the media are the Good, Bad and Ugly thoughts about today’s General Election.  I particularly liked the SkyNews teams General Affection Ballad: The most remarkable aspect this time around is that the most lauded … Continue reading

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All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure–Mark Twain

The Election race is underway and Education is to be one of the key battle grounds. I’ve trawled the Beeb to capture some of the highlights: “David Cameron has declared that permitting the building of new Free Schools is one of their … Continue reading

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