Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

“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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“Most people don’t read the writing on the wall until their backs are up against it.”

Posted on 09/10/2014 by jameswilding

My colleague John Carr introduced me to this lovely epigram, attributed to the American vice- president, Adlai Stevenson. If you consider the various headlines published this last month, most of the situations highlighted seem to remind us of Stevenson’s caution. … Continue reading →

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To couple or decouple, that’s the political question we teachers face for the General Election

Posted on 03/10/2014 by jameswilding

Michael Gove announced in March 2013 that the current system, by which Sixth Form students take AS levels at the end of Year 12 and then complete them at the higher A2 level in Year 13 would cease at the … Continue reading →

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“You have only failed if you have given up. Until then, it is called Learning”

Posted on 26/09/2014 by jameswilding

One of the notable assets of successful learners is their tenacity. So in creating a curriculum that promotes enquiry and interest, as an academic faculty we have got half way through the conundrum that faces teachers every day they go to … Continue reading →

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“The greater prizes are to come…” Anne Atkins at Claires Court Senior Speech Day

Posted on 19/09/2014 by jameswilding

On Thursday 18 September 2014, Claires Court Senior School celebrated its prize giving, and what an endurance feat it was too. It is never my intention for events such as Speech Day to last more than 100 minutes, but whilst … Continue reading →

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@SirKenRobinson: “We don’t know who we can be until we know what we can do”

Posted on 12/09/2014 by jameswilding

@jameswilding “Ask not How Good are We, but How are We Good?” In the educational journey that we promote at Claires Court, we understand that the most important aspect of our provision must be to ensure that a positive and … Continue reading →

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ISANet Newsletter Monday 8 September 2014 – Beyond fulfilling your potential…

Posted on 08/09/2014 by jameswilding

ISANet Newsletter Monday 8 September 2014 http://goo.gl/jWbZ6o for the full picture edition. Beyond fulfilling your potential… At the start of every new Academic Year, teachers and pupils have a chance to reset how other people perceive them. There has been a … Continue reading →

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Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Posted on 04/09/2014 by jameswilding

Welcome back to Claires Court for another fully-committed and high-energy Academic Year.  Please do read my last post, Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it,  in which I highlight the sweet and the sour of the Summer, celebrating the best … Continue reading →

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