Tag Archives: education

The Engine of Character: “Show up on the BAD days

Posted on 23/04/2026 by jameswilding

As I write this, the air in the halls of Claires Court has shifted. It is late April 2026, and the “stratosphere” of school life feels particularly charged. For our Year 13s, the countdown has reached its final sequence. Next … Continue reading →

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The Author, the Village, and the Paradox of Independence

Posted on 12/02/2026 by jameswilding

On Monday 23 February, my brother and I announced that the ownership of Claires Court Schools Ltd. had moved from the Wilding family over the the Licensed Trade Charity, a venerable organisation established in 1793 to support children and families … Continue reading →

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Play Is Not a Luxury — It’s a Higher Form of Learning

Posted on 27/01/2026 by jameswilding

For fifty years, I have witnessed the evolution of education from the classroom frontlines. As a headteacher, I introduced the National Curriculum with optimism, only to see later reforms push high-stakes testing and diminish children’s creative writing. In response, my … Continue reading →

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“Making the ‘Magic’ happen in 2026.”

Posted on 08/01/2026 by jameswilding

Link to Podcast discussion Claires Court Academic Faculty returned for the school-wide in-service training this week, held in the Baylis Theatre at Braywick Leisure Centre in Maidenhead. In our lead presentations and age-range-specific workshops, building relationships, resilience, and quality feedback … Continue reading →

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The Academic Vacuum: Why Test Scores Aren’t Enough to Save Our Children

Posted on 22/12/2025 by jameswilding

In my fifty years in education, I have watched the pendulum of school reform swing back and forth with dizzying speed. We have seen the rise of the “knowledge-rich” curriculum and a laser-like focus on the “core” subjects of English, … Continue reading →

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 Beyond the Breaking Point: Concluding 2025 and Challenges Ahead in 2026.

Posted on 18/12/2025 by jameswilding

Another year closes, and the festive flurry attempts to cloak the underlying tension and exhaustion that have permeated the English education system. As the clock ticks down to 2025, many of us in schools, whether we are Principals, teachers, or … Continue reading →

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Lethal Mutations – When the direction of Government Policy is fundamentally flawed

Posted on 12/12/2025 by jameswilding

“Lethal Mutations” – When the direction of Government Policy is fundamentally flawed or damaging from its conception, and which ultimately leads to severe harm or the eventual collapse of the system or society it was intended to govern. I do … Continue reading →

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BBC Grierson Award 2025, Baftas, Emmys and Oscars – the Parenting effect.

Posted on 27/11/2025 by jameswilding

One of the many benefits I continue to enjoy is seeing the success that former pupils (and staff) make of their lives post Claires Court. While I can recall memories from the school I lead all the way back to … Continue reading →

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“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

Posted on 21/11/2025 by jameswilding

The publication of the Claires Court Inspection Report September 2025 last week provided many statements about the school’s work with the children and young people receiving their education with us. The inspection regime for our sector is conducted by the … Continue reading →

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#MakingHistoryEveryDay

Posted on 13/11/2025 by jameswilding

When the school was emerging from #lockdown, it was very evident that everyone’s ‘engines’ needed a metaphorical service, to check that all the moving parts were suitably free-running, that the ‘satnav’ switched on and the future direction of travel calibrated. … Continue reading →

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