ccjameswilding

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#ItStartedAtCC - reflections on and from Alumni

Over recent weeks, I have caught up at Open Days, Community Events and wider pastures with a host of former pupils,, and we’ve had some really good conversations. What’s surprised me is that whilst I am more than keen to discover what they are doing now, and how their own parents are doing, their interest always returns to “How’s the school doing?” Given the inability for any of us to insulate…

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"We've been cursed with the ability to imagine the future without being able to see it" - Ian Leslie

The quote above is one of my favourites from Ian Leslie, a humorous but informed author of a range of books in which he sets out to identify how we/society can change of the better. I await the arrival of “Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together” for a read through this weekend once again, because put simply, both the UK and US democracies have chosen…

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Academic Principal's half-term report ♦ part 2

As part 1 of the half-term report published at the start of half-term, the School has been in great heart to date, and the various activities, Holiday Club and trips away at half-term have gone really well. Whilst you can read and see the news stream on our website or via other social media, please consider loading the Claires Court app directly onto your device which carries our news as it is…

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Academic Principal’s Half-Term Report October 2024 - Part 1

After 43 days of the Autumn term, I am delighted to close this half with my first Half-Term report on my sole role as Academic Principal. Below you will find some lovely stories, some examples of #CCMakingHistory, new on our current and upcoming physical site improvements and developments and to close, some commentary on the 100+ days under the new Government and the 80 days of ‘VATnoise’ since…

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Why developing a sense of Agency in children and young people is one of the main purposes of Education.

Over recent years in England and across the Western World, there has developed an epidemic failure of the mental well-being of our children and young people. Employers talk openly about how young graduates entering the workplace have a sense of entitlement without an appropriate work ethic, and yet young graduates find themselves with a weight of university debt yet no obvious channels or…

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Work in Progress 4 - What the future holds!

This blog is about the research and subsequent efforts I and my colleagues continue to conduct to ensure that ‘why, how and what we do’ works. Circa 30 years ago, the Mast Organisation based in Taplow introduced me to 2 amazing study skills tutors, Joan Dennis and Linda Greetham. Joan was a current parent at the time, Robert and Simon with me at Senior Boys, with Simon going on to win Rowing…

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My Week: "Any name in the headlines" as told to Claires Court SchoolTV

This blog is all about the brilliant support work that our SchoolTV service provides. But I can’t help include in these introductory 3 paragraphs that some of the headline leaders in the Press have been having a right go at Sir Kier Starmer, his wide Lady Victoria, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, because of the ‘Freebie culture’ they seem all to have…

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"MaidenheadisourCampus" - progress over 5 years!

Over the past 5 years, as Principals of Claires Court, my brother Hugh and I have sought how best to develop the school, despite the failure of our ‘One Campus’ proposals at the planning and appeal stages in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Our first resolution was perhaps inevitable; in the face of advice received from the Department of Education (DfE) and our own RBWM Education service that…

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Work in Progress 3 - Decades of investment in SL6 has helped us become our 'best selves'!

My blog this week covers: Why long term stable investment in relationship building is how Education succeeds A call to action for those who wish to respond to the government’s consultation on the imposition of VAT on private school fees A reminder that Education, Health and Care in all societies are intimately linked, and what Lord Darzi’s review should not be used as a ‘proxy’ for State…

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Work in Progress 2 - Integrity above all?

As readers of my previous blog will know, last Thursday I was part of the sector’s deputation at the House of Lords, to support the debate on the Labour Government’s proposals to impose 20% vat on private school fees. Whilst there was overwhelming support in the Lords for Lord Lexden’s proposals, first and foremost the suggestion to delay the VAT imposition until September 2025, one Labour…

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Work in Progress - what does a school principal do?

Welcome back all to the Autumn Term 2024. As the Academic Principal of Claires Court, I thought it wise to inform new and existing readers of my role in school, current Work in Progress and the direction and focus oy my activities for the Autumn Term 2024. Firstly, whilst I thoroughly enjoyed my 8 days of leave from work in July and August, actually there has been no longer summer vacation to…

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Progress over time - 'What's Normal for Norfolk'?

I start this blog with confirmation that the school’s students have achieved the best academic results at both A level and GCSE they have ever gained. Of course there have been disappointments and challenges, but I reckon we’ve made it through to Summer 2024 by treating the challenges of the last 5 years as ones that can and will be overcome, and that we can all at #CCMakeHistory every day. When…

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VAT and next steps: an update from ISC

All independent schools are facing the imposition of VAT on the tuition fees they charge parents for the education they provide for their children. As announced by the new Labour government last month, VAT is due to be imposed on tuition fees from January 2025. The Inland Revenue published their first technical paper 2 weeks ago; in short, the paper makes clear that the new government is…

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Principals' End of Term Letter  ♦   12 July 2024  

Principals’ End of Term Letter  ♦   12 July 2024   https://bit.ly/463H6iqIntroductionSummer sunshine is with us for barely a brief moment, yet the smiles amongst the Claires Court community, parents, pupils and staff, have been much more sustained (thank you) and carried us through so well this term. The last fortnight has seen our many and various respective graduations and events, all full of…

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Principled views on the Election 4 July 2024

Following yesterday’s ballot, a Labour government has been elected. As Principals, my brother, Hugh and I know that the result will understandably cause uncertainty for all independent schools directly, and of course for our parents who have placed their children with us at Claires Court. For some time, Labour’s stated intention has been to remove “tax breaks” for our sector by imposing VAT on…

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Out of the frying pan...

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the next general election on Wednesday 24 May 2024, circa 16:26 after a day filled with rumour beforehand. Am I a great fan of the current administration? No. Have I confidence in our current Member of Parliament, Theresa May? Yes, but she is standing down, and we have no idea who is to take her place as MP, because she’s be the only one Maidenhead has ever had.…

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"Doing the Right Thing Right" - There is an even greater good!

It’s 25 years since I knew I was to lead as Chairman the Independent Schools Association, and it made me concentrate on the ‘Power of words’ spoken as “Calls for Action!” At a time when politics in the UK had stabilised, our military had positively engaged in the Balkan crisis and a new century had been born, I wondered out loud, looking ahead, how things were set to be so fair for the future. In…