Meet our Governors

Carol Pearce

Co-Opted Governor

Governor Role:

Chair of Governors

Child protection & safeguarding

Responsible for liaison with the LA in the event of any Child Protection allegation against the headteacher

Safeguarding

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Effectiveness of Leadership and Management

Quality of Education

Personal Development/Behaviour & Attitudes

Term of Office:

October 2018 - October 2022

About me:

As Chair, I see it as my role to ensure that the

work of Governors is focused on Penn Wood’s

core purpose and vision 'Better Never Stops -

Mastery Learning in the pursuit of Excellence’.  

In essence, this means that we aim for our

whole school, children and staff, to be the best

that they can be to ensure we are an exceptional

school and recognised as such by our

community, the wider community, nationally and

by those schools that we support on their

improvement journeys.

I have had many years’ experience in

governance and continue to work across

schools in a range of functions: 

• Supporting and challenging school leaders

as a Professional Leadership and Learning Partner.

• Working with governing bodies as a National

Leader of Governance and an experienced

Governor Mark Assessor to ensure that they

are fit for purpose, carry out their statutory roles and responsibilities and keep children’s well-being, learning and progress at the heart of their work.

• Delivering the National Chairs' Programme under Hampshire’s License.

• Delivering National Leadership Programmes for the Institute of Education, and Inspired to Lead.

• Designing and delivering a host of professional learning opportunities/programmes for school governors.

• Acting as a leadership coach for school staff at all levels.

• Professional external advice to Governors for Headteacher appraisal panels.

Contact information: carol_pearce@pennwood.slough.sch.uk

Arshidh-Ali Sahir

Parent Governor

Governor Role:

Sports Premium (Sport/PE)

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Personal Development/Behaviour & Attitudes

Term of Office:

July 2016 - July 2024

About me:

I have 2 children at Penn Wood Primary and

Nursery School and am passionate about

ensuring that all children receive a quality

education at the school.  I work for London

Transport and am originally from Sri Lanka. My

particular interest is in sports and I want to

ensure that children have the opportunity to

develop in sport as well as performing well

academically, with behaviours that positively support learning.

Saqib Mughal

Co-Opted Governor

Governor Role:

Vice Chair of Governors

Resources Committee Member

High Performance Learning

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Behaviour and Attitudes/Personal Development

Term of Office:

February 2019-February 2023

About me:

With two children currently in Penn Wood

School, I have a vested interest in the school’s

wellbeing and performance.  My new-born being

my third child to join the school (hopefully!) in

the next few years, my relationship with Penn

Wood will be extending well into the future and

so I feel a personal responsibility to help,

support and nurture the school's development.

Professionally, I come from a finance

background. Having originally trained in practice

I’ve since moved into industry mainly within

Commercial Finance. I recently moved to O2 in

Slough – responsible for financial planning and

analysis. Alongside this I also worked for 2 years

as a Trustee for Citizens Advice Bureaux Slough.

My responsibility on the board was to approve

the finances, help set the future strategy and to

hold the CEO to account for her performance

and decisions made in the running of the service.

Having lived, worked and schooled in Slough,

the local community is a big part of my life and I

feel it’s important that someone with extensive

local knowledge and community links is represented on the schools governing board.

Rosa Hopkins

Co-opted Governor

Governor Role:

Mental Health

Vulnerable Pupils - Pupil Premium/CLA

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Personal Development/Behaviour & Attitudes

Term of Office:

Feb 2018 – Feb 2022

About me:

I have worked in school and community

settings with Aik Saath since September 2015

and coordinate their training in primary and

secondary schools, planning and delivering

work around conflict, cohesion and diversity,

linking with PSHE and British Values. Through

Aik Saath I have worked with several Year 4

and 5 classes at Penn Wood School and also

worked with current students/alumni of Penn

Wood in Youth Clubs.  I have also worked with

children and young people in previous roles as

a watersports instructor and play worker.  I

have an MA in Conflict Resolution, am First Aid

trained and have Level 1 Safeguarding. I have

a key focus as a Governor in Mental Health.

Outside work, I am a volunteer with the youth

charity the Woodcraft Folk and enjoy netball, kayaking, cycling and walking.

Jane Girle

Headteacher / Staff Governor

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Effectiveness of Leadership and Management

Quality of Education

Behaviour and Attitudes

Personal Development

Early Years

Term of Office:

February 2002 - present

About Me:

As a Governor, my role is to:

• Formulate aims and objectives, policies,

targets and the curriculum for the governing

body to consider adopting

• Fulfil my delegated responsibility for the organisation, management and control of the

school

• Advise on and implement the Governors’

strategic framework

• Report on achievement and progress over

time and in comparison with other schools

• Give Governors information so that they can

feel confident about performing their duties

well

Madeleine Turner

Staff Governor

Governor Role:

Governor training and development

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Effectiveness of Leadership and Management

Quality of Education

Early Years 

Term of Office:

September 2016 - September 2020

About me:

I graduated from Aston University with a BSc

in Psychology and Sociology and then qualified as

a teacher from Bath Spa University with a PGCE

in Primary School Education. I am in my fifth

year of teaching at Penn Wood Primary &

Nursery School and am the Year 6 leader. I as passionate about the need to expose children to a

wealth of knowledge and experience through a

mastery curriculum. I believe every child should

have an equal opportunity to a great education

and support network. It is my responsibility, as a

member of the governing body, to ensure the

delivery of this.

Pauline Williams

Clerk to Governors

Term of Office:

April 2016 - Present

About me:

As clerk, my role is to work with the Governing

Board and Senior Leadership to ensure that the

Governors can work effectively and are

supported with advice and guidance to fulfil

their duties. I work in several schools, including

academies, as their Clerk, across different Local

Authorities, which ensures that I can learn best

practice and share this with all my Governors. I

am an Associate Trainer of Clerks for the Royal

Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and an

Accredited Clerk.

Paul Dewberry

LA Governor

Governor Role:

Chair of Resources Committee

Chair of Pay Committee

GDPR Champion

Health and Safety

Strategic Plan Focus Area:

Budget spend associated with Strategic Plan, Pupil Premum and Sports Premium

Term of Office:

July 2017- July 2021

I am an experienced PFI Facilities Operations, Contract and Mobilisation Manager working in the education sector for over 12 years.

Within the scope of responsibilities I currently undertake, I strongly believe my skillset can complement the existing board.

 To this end, I can confirm the following are aspects of my current role:

Full accountability to Budget planning and management spend

Full procurement process approvals from tender to order ensuring best value to all parties

Authorising person for H&S tasks and overall accountability for all H&S related matters on my contracts.

Premises and Facilities Management has been the backbone of my career for over 20 years

Within that period, I have gained skills in Project Management from small renovations to larger complex additional rooms / blocks.

We engage local providers where practical and sponsor local sports teams.

I was vice-chair of the Burnham Business Association and I still engage with them on an external support basis.

I am fully committed to undertake and adhere to both the boards values and any training opportunity that will enhance my offerings to them.

Omer Farooq

Parent Governor      

Governor Role:     

No specific role at this stage                

Strategic Plan Focus Area:   

Term of Office:

November 2019- July 2023

I work as a financial controller which requires

a high level of problem solving, data analysis

and strategic decision making.  I hope to bring

these skills to the Governing Board at Penn

Wood School to ensure that the school exceeds

all expectations and stays as one of the finest

in the Borough.  Having lived in Slough for

18 years, I am contributing to the community

through working on the Slough Residents Board,

which helps to improve the performance of the

Council and can make recommendations when

the Council's performance falls below

expectations.  Through my children I have

first-hand experience of the delivery of the

curriculum at Penn Wood and how the

school is perceived from a parental point

of view and would like to be involved in

shaping the education for our children and

creating a great environment for teachers.  

In my spare time I enjoy cricket.

Naziya Ahmed                 

Parent Governor              

Governor Role:             

No specific role at this stage                             

Strategic Plan Focus Area:                                   

Term of Office:                                                                          

October 2019- October 2023     

My career background involves 13 years

with Heathrow Airport as a Manager for

Terminal 5 alongside my personal

business of being a driving instructor.

Between my two jobs I have gained

extensive experience, knowledge of the

skills of senior level management and

leadership, managing accounts and tax

returns, reaching decisions with teams

and independently.  My instructor role has

enabled me to know our local community

and gives me the skill of teaching using

different forms of communication.  I am also

involved in some charities abroad that help

support gynaecology and labour wards.  I

have two children and one is at the Nursery at Penn Wood.  As a Governor I hope to

contribute towards the continuous

improvement of education and enhance

the environment for staff at the school to

enable everyone to flourish.  

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