Author Archives: jameswilding

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About jameswilding

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

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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Academic Principal’s notes – 31 January 2025 

Posted on 31/01/2025 by jameswilding

In my closing messages at the end of last term, I was delighted to share with you the Principal’s Court Report, covering the last two years formally highlighting some key milestones and achievements. If you missed the link to the … Continue reading →

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“The longer I live, the more convinced am I that this planet is used by other planets as a lunatic asylum.” – George Bernard Shaw

Posted on 23/01/2025 by jameswilding

A NotebookLM discussion on this blog can be found here: https://schl.cc:443/gz The header picture this week shows the ‘beautiful disaster’ that was the Musk SpaceX Starship coming down over the Gulf of Mexico America last Thursday. Characterising any weekly blog … Continue reading →

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“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.”André Gide.

Posted on 23/01/2025 by jameswilding

I was saddened to hear this Wednesday of the closure of one of our local independent schools, Highfield, part of the long-term network of provision for families in Maidenhead and the surrounding area. Highfield’s owners, Chatsworth Schools, have made it … Continue reading →

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“Welcome to a New Year at Claires Court – Making our mark in 2025”

Posted on 09/01/2025 by jameswilding

A NotebookLM conversation about this blog can be found here: https://schl.cc:443/gs and below. The header image for this week’s blog, shows Claires Court’s 48 acres of playing fields to be found off Cannon Lane on the driveway into school. The … Continue reading →

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“What do George Bernard Shaw, Jeff Goldblum and I have in common?”

Posted on 06/01/2025 by jameswilding

A Notebook LLM conversation about this blog can be found here: https://schl.cc:443/gn Today, Monday 6 January 2025 I start my 44th year as a school head, yet another almost relentless anniversary barrier I break through when I come back to … Continue reading →

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‘Sweet dreams are made of this, Who am I to disagree?’ – a final hurrah for 2024?

Posted on 21/12/2024 by jameswilding

NotebookLLM Deep Dive Audio review of this article can be found here – https://schl.cc:443/gm It’s 10.30pm, Saturday evening, 21 December, and we’re watching BBC2, a night dedicated to Annie Lennox and her singing. Lennox’s life exposes all that’s so wrong, … Continue reading →

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The Court Report 2022 – 2024

Posted on 20/12/2024 by jameswilding

Generations of pupils from all schools and colleges are used to looking back on archive publications that document all the special events and achievements over the past year. Bit by bit, the tradition of publishing the school magazine has eroded, … Continue reading →

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Principals’ End of Term Words 13 December 2024

Posted on 13/12/2024 by jameswilding

Dear Parents This time last year, we wrote to share with you news of developments at Claires Court, and 12 months on it’s pleasing to report that at Senior Boys, the Food Tech studio is now successfully commissioned and the … Continue reading →

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