Meet our Governors

Carol Pearce

About Me

As Co-Chair, my role is to ensure that the work of Governors is focused on Penn Wood’s vision 'Better Never Stops’ and underpinned by its values of Community, Kindness, Respect and Excellence.  We aim for our whole school, children and staff, to be the best that they can be. This is to ensure we are an exceptional school and recognised as such by our community, at national level and by schools that we support on their improvement journeys.

I have over half a century of professional experience in education and ensure I keep up with research and cutting-edge practice. My experience includes being a teacher across the entire age range, from Nursery through to Year 13, main subjects English and music. I have also been an Ofsted Inspector, Headteacher of a large multi-cultural primary school, the Executive Head of an all-through Special School, and Service Leader for Education Standards within a local authority. In addition, as a National Leader of Governance, a Trainer delivering National School Leadership Programmes and a Trainer in Neuro Linguistic Programming. Currently, since 2018, it is my privilege to work with  The Learning Partnership Trust as a School Improvement Partner.

Co-Opted Governor

Governor Role:

Co-Chair of Governors

Health & Safety Governor (Joint)

Child protection & safeguarding

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

Term of Office:

June 2022 - June 2026

Contact information:

Carol_Pearce@pennwood.slough.sch.uk

Rosa Hopkins

About Me

I joined the Governing Board of Penn Wood School in 2018 and have since developed my knowledge and skills through the National Governance Association (NGA) Chair’s Development training.  As Co-Chair, I work closely with the Board and school leadership to ensure strong governance that upholds our school’s values of Community, Kindness, Respect, and Excellence.

My professional background is in youth and community work.  Since 2015, I have worked with Together As On (formerly Aik Saath), facilitating training for primary and secondary schools on conflict resolution, cohesion, and diversity, with links to PSHE and British Values.  I also work with young people in the community through programmes such as Young Health Champions,  groups for young volunteers, and supporting community events.  My wider experience includes roles as a water sports instructor and play worker.  In my spare time I volunteer to lead groups for children within the Woodcraft Folk, and am involved with a local running club committee.

As a Governor, I have a particular interest in mental health, youth voice, and fostering a cohesive school community.  As a Governor I have had a focus on mental health, equality and diversity, and Pupil Premium.  I am currently the Board's SEND governor.  I am committed to ensuring that all children at Penn Wood feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Co-Opted Governor

Governor Role:

Co-Chair of Governors

SEND Governor

Health & Safety Governor (Joint)

Term of Office:

February 2022 – February 2026

Naziya Ahmed

About Me

My career background involves 13 years with Heathrow Airport as a Manager for Terminal 5 alongside my personal business of being a driving instructor.  My experience in senior management, leadership, and community involvement, paired with my hands-on teaching experience as a driving instructor, gives me a deep understanding of both professional operations and interpersonal communication.  Additionally, I’m involved in charity work abroad and within the community which helps me to make a positive impact on a global scale, while my role as a parent gives me direct connection to the school environment.  I have two children at Penn Wood and as a Parent Governor with 4 years’ experience I hope to carry on contributing towards the continuous improvement of education and enhance the environment for staff and students at the school.

Parent Governor

Governor Role:

Attendance Governor

Term of Office:

October 2023 - October 2027

Sameena Abid

Parent Governor

Governor Role: Sports Premium Governor

Term of Office:

Nov 2024 - Nov 2028

I am delighted to become a Parent Governor at Penn Wood Primary and Nursery School.  With two children currently thriving at the school and another soon to join, I am deeply invested in the school's success and eager to contribute to its vibrant learning environment.  For the past three years, I have actively engaged with the Penn Wood community.  I spearheaded initiatives like the free EID food stall, which fostered inclusivity and strengthened community ties.  To promote cultural understanding, I introduced activities within the classroom, like the Ramadan advent calendar.  I also regularly volunteer at parent workshops, building strong relationships with staff and gaining insights into the school's priorities.

My background as a clinical pharmacist has equipped me with analytical and interpersonal skills.  I am adept at evaluating information and making evidence-based decisions, essential for analyzing school performance data and contributing to strategic planning. As a pharmacist, adhering to strict regulations and ethical guidelines are crucial in ensuring the school complies with all necessary policies.  Strong communication and collaboration skills, honed through daily interaction with varied healthcare professionals, enabling me to engage effectively with the governing body.

Growing up and working in Slough for a decade, I understand our community's needs and share the school's commitment to continuous improvement.  I am passionate about ensuring every child receives an exceptional education.  I am committed to enhancing educational standards, ensuring curriculum diversity, and developing programs for gifted students.  I believe Penn Wood has the potential to reach even greater heights and am excited to dedicate my time to its success.  I am confident that my skills and experience will make me a valuable asset to the governing body. I look forward to collaborating to create a learning environment where every child thrives and reaches their full potential.

Claire Fletcher

About Me

I feel very privileged to be the Headteacher of Penn Wood and to be part of the wonderful community the school serves.

With 30 years experience in teaching and  18 years serving as a Headteacher, I have a deep passion for the professional development of staff and the enriching of the curriculum to ensure that every child gets the very best from their school experience. I am fortunate to work with an incredible team of professionals, across many teams, committed to ongoing refinement of the offer at Penn Wood. We truly believe 'Better Never Stops'.

Education, rooted in shared values, is a passion and our Governors and staff team work tirelessly to drive improvement, underpinned by Community, Kindness, Respect and Excellence. Our children and their outcomes are testament to the work of our school.

As a Governor, my role is to work closely with the Governing Board on the strategic direction of the school and to remain accountable for its ongoing success, reporting on achievement and progress over time and in comparison with other schools. The work that Leaders and Governors are currently collaborating on is very exciting and we share true determination to be an outward facing school.

Headteacher / Staff Governor

Term of Office:

September 2023 - present

Tracy O'Shea

About Me

Staff Governor

Governor Role:

Term of Office:

September 2022 - September 2026

With over 15 years of experience in the Financial Services Sector, I have excelled in various roles, including managing multiple bank branches as a Senior Bank Manager in the Windsor and Slough areas.  My true passion lies in fostering progressive and inclusive communities, which is why I currently serve as the Co-Chair of our Multicultural Employee Led Network at my organisation. 

Throughout my career, I have developed strong leadership skills and the ability to cultivate lasting relationships within communities.  In my role as a Performance & Business Manager, I’ve enhanced my skillset by delivering on strategic goals and implementing meaningful change to help our communities thrive.  I am a collaborative team player who believes that societal progress is rooted in how effectively people work together.  Therefore, I see collaboration and teamwork as essential qualities for a Governor.

I am dedicated, hardworking, and enthusiastic, traits that serve me well in my role as a parent Governor.  I am driven and ambitious, particularly in my pursuit of making Penn Wood an even more inclusive school.  I consistently strive for excellence, and I am a highly engaged individual with a creative flair.

As the Vice Chair of Governors, I have embraced the opportunity to support our Board more significantly.  This role has allowed me to ensure the Board runs smoothly and contribute to maintaining effective governance practices. 

Parent Governor

Role: 

Vice Chair of Governors

Early Years

Equality and Diversity

I am currently a Senior Product Manager at Ocado Technology, where I lead the vision, strategy, and delivery of Ocado's global Edge Computing Platform.  My responsibilities include driving platform adoption across global fulfilment centres, securing integration of machine learning-enabled robotics, and implementing efficient agile workflows to improve development and value delivery.

As a Co-opted Governor at Penn Wood since February 2023, I serve as Chair of both the Resources and Pay Committees, whilst also fulfilling the statutory Filtering/Monitoring safeguarding responsibilities, having a personal interest in science and computing subjects. I fulfil my governance duties through regular classroom visits, active participation in Board meetings, and close collaboration with the school's IT team and Designated Safeguarding Leads to ensure our digital infrastructure and monitoring systems are robust and fit for purpose.

Working alongside senior leaders, I strive to both support and challenge the school's direction, bringing my analytical background and stakeholder management experience to help ensure decisions are made in the best interests of our pupils.  My background in Chemical Engineering with Business Management from the University of Manchester provides me with the ability to assimilate complex information and contribute meaningfully to strategic discussions.

I remain deeply motivated by my children's education at Penn Wood and am committed to the school's vision that "Better Never Stops." Through my governance role, I'm privileged to contribute not only to my son and daughter's educational journey but to that of all pupils at our school, helping to create an environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

Co-opted Governor

Role:

Chair Resources

Chair Pay Committee

Filtering and Monitoring

Anika Ahmed

About Me

I believe my skillset and background in financial services are well suited to the requirements of the Governing Board at Penn Wood School.  I started my financial career at Nationwide Building Society then with HiFX and XE Money Transfer.  Within XE I transferred from customer services to the compliance team.  During my time in compliance, I learnt about financial crime, transaction monitoring, auditing and politically exposed persons and sanction reporting.

Since my son has started his journey at Penn Wood, my interest has grown into understanding the mechanics of the education system and how I can make a difference.  Therefore, the Local Authority Governor role is very fitting, where I will be able to relay my thoughts and support the successes the school is achieving.  The key skills I can bring are the following:

Analytical skills - Having studied politics, it has helped me analyse objectives and policies.  In my previous job role, I conducted reports and monitored documents in financial crime that had to be thoroughly analysed to achieve a valid consensus.  

Communication and Collaborative Skills - I believe I work well with others and deliver clear and concise messages.  I have always worked in teams in all my previous job roles.  I am proactive in making suggestions, and if there is anything that I do not understand, I feel confident enough to question it.

LA Appointed Governor

Pupil Premium 

Term of Office:

October 2023 - October 2027

Pauline Williams

About Me

As Governance Professional, my role is to work with the Governing

Board and Senior Leadership Team to ensure that the

Governors can work effectively and are supported with advice and guidance to fulfil their statutory duties. I am responsible for governor training and development.  I have worked in many other schools of all types, including academies, across 5 different Local Authorities, which ensured that I learned best practice and have brought this to the Board at Penn Wood. I am an Accredited Clerk and have trained other Governance Professionals. 

Governance Professional

Term of Office:

April 2016 - Present