50 years in education: Claires Court principal looks back as ownership changes hands

“What we have got to give people is lifelong self-worth. It’s all part and parcel of what makes us different.”

After 66 years, Claires Court School has changed ownership – turning from a family passion project into a school run by a ‘venerable’ education charity.

James Wilding, academic principal, has been working in education for about 50 years, and as he and his brother Hugh prepare to hand over the reins, he looks back on his time.

The school was founded in 1960 by their parents, David and Josephine Wilding.

Originally conceived as a boys’ day prep school with some boarding and just 20 pupils, Claires Court ’grew very quickly’.

David and Josephine were ‘so passionate about what they did', and James Wilding thinks they would be proud of what the brothers have accomplished since taking over ownership.

“My brother and I were strivers – we carried on working, and the future opened in front of us,” he said.

“We’ve designed a really intelligent curriculum – we don’t follow what the Government says about what you must teach to be successful, because we know it’s not true.”

Rather, Claires Court places more emphasis on broader types of success, with its alumni going on to do apprenticeships and technical qualifications or significant sporting achievements.

Mr Wilding believes that sports, arts and drama are important aspects of education.

“It gives people a huge amount of confidence,” he said. “They’re just enjoying the community collaborative spirit of boys and girls working together, doing amazing things.

This blended style reflects Claires Court’s structure; spread across three campuses, it has operated in a ‘diamond model’, whereby boys and girls are educated separately for part of their schooling and together for other parts.

What happens outside of the classroom is co-ed, which Mr Wilding thinks is integral to the culture of the school.

They bring boys and girls together wherever they can – and make good use of local playing fields, sports facilities and clubs, and art and theatre venues like Norden Farm.

“We’re partnered with everybody – Claires Court is part of Maidenhead,” Mr Wilding said.

“I’m proud of the ethos we have created. We’ve been able to generate a real respect for what we’ve done.”

Claires Court has now joined the LTC Education Group (LTCEG), a family of schools within the Licensed Trade Charity, which has more than 200 years of experience in education.

Mr Wilding’s passion for education hasn’t faded, but he and his brother felt they had reached a stage in their lives when they had to consider what would happen to the school if they were suddenly no longer able to run it.

Upon announcing that the Wildings were handing over the reins to LTCEG, the school’s leadership reiterated ambitions to eventually – in 10-20 years – form a single co-ed site.

Such a change is so far in the future it is unclear what the lay of the land will be, but Mr Wilding is confident that schools like Claires Court will retain their value.

“They’ll be an eternal need for schools that support children either because they’re very able or because they’re very different,” said Mr Wilding.

“Children come here and realise they’re in a place that will support them. It’s all part and parcel of what makes [Claires Court] different.

“What we have got to give people is lifelong self-worth.”

Looking back on all his years in education, Mr Wilding had these final thoughts:

“Independence has allowed us to prioritise balance between knowledge and curiosity, technology, humanity, vision and well-being, keeping the child at the centre.

“If my career has proved anything, it is that schools exist to grow people – not to serve systems.

“That conviction has passed down, tested and renewed over time. It remains my reason for optimism about education’s future.”