The Guild of Educators.

Livery Companies have played a central role in the City of London since the Middle Ages. They started as fraternities mostly to protect the interests of particular trades and the practitioners of those trades. Today they continue to be important to City life through their work to support charities and the new and changing nature of the City of London itself.

The oldest charter of incorporation of a Livery Company was 1155 (Weavers). Today there are 103 Livery Companies, some modern (Builders Merchants, Environmental Cleaners, Information Technologists) and some of ancient origin (Mercers, Goldsmiths, Weavers, Fishmongers). The ancient Companies flourish alongside modern Companies who represent today's professions and reflect recent developments and innovations.

The traditional concerns of the City Livery Companies have always included education and training, first and foremost, in the development of apprentiships and similar schemes pursuing professional competence and excellence in trade.

There was however, no Company dedicated exclusively to those who teach and train until the founding of The Guild of Educators on the 24th May 2001

The Guild is registered with the Corporation of London in the first of a three-stage process that will ultimately result in full Livery Status. The second stage of the process is to become a Company without Livery and the final stage is to be a Company with full Livery. These stages take several years and are dependent on membership (Freedom) growth and financial stability together with the growth and demonstrated use of the charitable fund. The founders of what is now a thriving City institution wish not only to recognise the worth of education but also to contribute to its development.

Nowadays, as the UK moves away from manufacturing into the new knowledge-based economy, there is an ever-increasing need for a conduit linking industry and government to academe. The Guild has an important part to play to help define the skills that will be needed to innovate in the future. These skills, once recognised, will lead to suitably qualified educators with appropriate training that will be essential for us to compete effectively in the future.

Forthcoming Education meetings

An evening meeting has been arranged at the University of Notre Dame, for mid May 2008. The topic is "Ofsted?" and will be led by the Master Elect of The Guild. The evening will start at 6.00 with a glass of wine and will finish at 8.00pm and for those who are free to do so, we will be able to continue the discussion over dinner at a local restaurant.

An Open forum has been arranged at the University of Westminster, for the early part of July 2008. The topic will be "aspects of education in China". The meeting will start at 12.00 and close at 2.00pm and sandwiches will be provided. We do hope that as many members of the Freedom as possible will be able to attend both meetings.

Please contact the clerk kl@lawrey23.freeserve.co.uk for further information about both events.

A most illuminating and interesting discussion took place on the 10th March 2008, introduced by Yvonne Burne (latterly headmistress of the London School for Girls) and Davina Lloyd (latterly headmistress of The Coopers School for Girls). Inevitably the discussion ranged over many issues facing secondary education, including inspection, discipline, league tables and the constant challenge facing a Head in both inspiring the students, motivating the staff and running a business. A most stimulating evening and we were all most grateful to Yvonne and Davina for sharing with us their thoughts and reflections on what has to be one of most challenging jobs, but also one of the most rewarding.