Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

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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Acts of Purpose – why teachers come to school.

Posted on 06/03/2025 by jameswilding

It’s a year since our PTA AGM 2024, and we’ve just held our update for 2025. Over the past 12 months, during one of the more unstable periods of world history I’ve experienced, I’ve significantly changed my focus as a … Continue reading →

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Special Report: Navigating AI Relationships

Posted on 26/02/2025 by jameswilding

I’ve recently written articles for Education press journals about our school’s own engagement with AI and its purposeful use in education, and in the research space I have become very aware of the growing concerns that parents specifically have for … Continue reading →

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“The day that changed my life” – Andrew Watson

Posted on 21/02/2025 by jameswilding

It’s Friday afternoon, 21 February 2025. Eight days ago, I attended Andrew Watson’s funeral service at St James the Less, Stubbings. The event was so oversubscribed that the church and parish centre (with a live broadcast) were full, and there … Continue reading →

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Half-way through the academic year, it’s Valentine’s Day and a good chance to be positive!

Posted on 14/02/2025 by jameswilding

As we enter the Spring half-term, everyone who works in education feels that the darkest days of winter are behind us and that the toughest new work of the year has been covered.  The rounds of parent-teacher evenings and consultations … Continue reading →

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Proprietorial governance in times of change

Posted on 06/02/2025 by jameswilding

All Independent Schools exist by permission of Parliament, and are responsible to the DfE for meeting what are known as the 8 Regulatory Standards (the regs) covered by the 2019 Guidance plus a plethora of policies for which we are … Continue reading →

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