University News Last updated 12 November 2012
An Executive Dean at Birmingham City University has been recognised for her work in the Education sector by being invited to become a Freeman of The Company of Educators.
Professor Fiona Church, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences (ELSS), has been selected to join a diverse group of individuals that come from all sectors of education.
On 28 September 2012, Professor Church attended the official inauguration ceremony in the City of London at Painter’s Hall, shortly followed by a church ceremony at St. James Garlickhythe Church.
Freemen of The Company of Educators were inaugurated by first making a pledge to “be true to the art and mystery of the profession known as education, giving of my skills and knowledge without limitation in the profession to which I have been called, conscious always of the professional conduct expected of me.”
Professor Fiona Church said “I was very honoured to be invited to join the Company and having originally been born a Londoner - and true Cockney by birth - it is very special to be recognised in this way.
The purpose of the company is to promote the cause of Education – something which I am passionate about – so I am very proud to be part of that.”
Charitable functions
Freemen of The Company of Educators are sworn in to help to further the cause of education and to perform charitable functions, including the encouragement and promotion of its standards of excellence, integrity and honourable practice.
The Company of Educators was founded, within the philanthropic tradition of the City of London livery companies, which have played an important role in protecting the interests of particular trades and the practitioners of those trades since the Middle Ages.
Membership to The Guild of Educators is by invitation only and members must demonstrate a connection to the City of London. It was founded on the 24 May 2011 to support the development of those who are engaged in the profession of education, development and training.
As a Freeman, Professor Church is also entitled to apply for Freedom to the City of London - one of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies in existence. Today the Freedom is largely symbolic but from the Middle Ages and the Victorian era, the Freedom meant the right to trade, enabling members of a Guild or Livery to carry out their trade or craft in the square mile. The Guild of Freemen of the City of London was founded in 1908 and its purpose is to bring together Freemen of the City of London for charitable, benevolent, educational and social activities.