Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

Digital Newsletter Monday 10 February 2014 – The Rising Damp edition (fingers firmly crossed).

Posted on 10/02/2014 by jameswilding

“Avast there me hearties” or some such Tosh of a greeting, from the Island Republic that is East Maidenhead. Those that know the senior boys site of Claires Court will know that it nestles gently some 800 yards away from … Continue reading →

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7 days – it’s always 7 days – and what happens when the ‘phone doesn’t ring

Posted on 04/02/2014 by jameswilding

One of the Open secrets within our school is that we are due an Inspection event. Not just any set of visitors, but a defining set that are hand-picked specifically to pull our weft and weave apart, check what DNA they … Continue reading →

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The ever-shifting foundations of Good Curriculum design and practice – using PISA/OECD data!

Posted on 31/01/2014 by jameswilding

In December 2013, the OECD PISA triennial international survey hit the news stands and England was pilloried for being so far behind the leading nations in the world. In addition to their somewhat arcane abilities test in reading, maths and … Continue reading →

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“It is in the shelter of each other that the people live” An Irish proverb

Posted on 28/01/2014 by jameswilding

During our working lives at Claires Court, we plan a very good deal, check across the piece that the opportunities arising are fairly shared, and reflect yet further after the event to ‘mop up’ where needs be. Serendipity however has … Continue reading →

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Improving the Claires Court newsfeed for 2014 – paper v web!

Posted on 20/01/2014 by jameswilding

Regular and established readers of our Bulletins and weekly Newsletters will know that we have been metronomic for at least 2 decades in the writing and publication of weekly bulletins to nurture our various parent and pupil groups in the … Continue reading →

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Facts v Skills and Knowledge v Wisdom – why Engineering still rocks!

Posted on 15/01/2014 by jameswilding

Into my seventh decade of wandering the planet (sounds really old), and I continue to learn in this connected educational world in which I work. Commencing teaching under old style O levels and A levels in the 1970’s, I joined … Continue reading →

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Weekly digital Newsletter 13 January 2014 – the ‘Shaking that bush’ edition http://goo.gl/fPwHDf

Posted on 13/01/2014 by jameswilding

http://goo.gl/fPwHDf One of the greatest ever scenes in Movie History (OK a bit blokeish, I’ll admit) is this one in which our prisoner, Paul Newman (Cool hand Luke) manages to escape from the chain gang. I have used the Metaphor … Continue reading →

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“We are spiritual beings having a human experience” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Posted on 08/01/2014 by jameswilding

In UK Education we get a chance to reflect on new beginnings twice a year, because of course the start of the academic is divorced from the calendar by 4 months. This separation does allow me as a school leader … Continue reading →

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Shared New Years resolution courtesy of Mark Twain via Lauren Laverne

Posted on 31/12/2013 by jameswilding

@laurenlaverne: NY resolution 2014 c/o Mark Twain: “Let us endeavour to live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry” Shared via TweetCaster

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‘Defeat, failure, loosing, falling on your ass, are the only things, that can teach you how to win’ – Andy Murray

Posted on 23/12/2013 by jameswilding

The relentless focus over 2 decades by politicians and educationalists on school improvement measures is laudable, because we all want school to be successful places of learning. Andy Murray’s take on ‘how champions learn’ challenges that notion somewhat; it could … Continue reading →

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