Dame Erica Christine Pienaar, DBE,

FRSA The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...

(born 20 March 1952) is a South African-born British

schoolteacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

and

educationalist Education sciences, also known as education studies or education theory, and traditionally called ''pedagogy'', seek to describe, understand, and prescribe education including education policy. Subfields include comparative education, educationa ...

Executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dir ...

Head Teacher of the Leathersellers' Federation of Schools until September 2013, Dame Erica also served as a

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

James Allen's Girls' School James Allen's Girls' School, abbreviated JAGS, is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school situated in Dulwich, South London, England. Founded in 1741, it is the second oldest girls’ independent school in Great Britain, with ...

Early life and education

Pienaar arrived in Great Britain at the age of three with her parents and elder sister in 1955 when her family emigrated from South Africa. She was educated at Rockmount Primary School in

South Norwood South Norwood is a district of South London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon, Greater London and formerly in the historic county of Surrey. It is located 7.8 miles (12.5 km) south-east of Charing Cross, north of Woodside and ...

then attending Coloma Convent Grammar School for Girls, before going up to

Goldsmiths, University of London Goldsmiths, University of London, formerly Goldsmiths College, University of London, is a constituent research university of the University of London. It was originally founded in 1891 as The Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute by ...

where she graduated as BA. After further studies, she took an

MBA A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular a ...

(

LSBU London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university in Elephant and Castle, London. It is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name. Founded in 1892 as the Borough Po ...

Career

Pienaar began her teaching career in 1973 and taught for 40 years in South East London. She was Headmistress of

Prendergast Hilly Fields College Prendergast School is a girls' secondary school and sixth form located on Hilly Fields, Brockley, in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is part of a multi-academy trust. The school motto is from Chaucer's Prologue to ''The Canterbury Tales:' ...

from 1998 to 2008. As of September 2009, Prendergast School became

, part of a Federation with the Crofton School, now known as Prendergast Ladywell Fields College; Prendergast Vale College joined the federation in 2011.

Honours and awards

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(2014) ** Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Lewisham (2013) **

Freeman of the City of London The Freedom of the City of London started around 1237 as the status of a 'free man' or 'citizen', protected by the charter of the City of London and not under the jurisdiction of a feudal lord. In the Middle Ages, this developed into a freedom or ...

(2011)

Appointments

* non-executive director of Wey Education Plc (23 February 2015–present) * Chair of Academic Advisory Board, Wey Education Plc (31 January 2017–present)www.weyeducation.com
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pienaar, Erica 1952 births Living people South African emigrants to the United Kingdom Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London Alumni of London South Bank University Women heads of schools in the United Kingdom Heads of schools in London Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts

Early life and education

Career

Honours and awards

Appointments

See also

References