Your Name:
Suzanne Cooper

Governor Type:
Appointee & Chair

Date Appointed:
16/02/2021

Term of Office: 
4 years

Appointment Ceases:
15/02/2025

Relevant information 

Suzanne’s career has been in Finance, HR, Leadership and Governance and for over 30 years she has been working in the education sector, both private and state. For 17 years she was a School Business Manager and member of the Senior Leadership Team. In June 2016 she took semi-retirement to become the part time Governance and Compliance Manager for a Multi Academy Trust.  She is currently the Internal Audit Lead for this same MAT.

Over the years she has delivered training courses for business management, finance and governance across the UK. Suzanne also worked for the DfE Value for Money Unit working with schools across the East Midlands in a consultancy role. She was a trustee for 7 years for The National Association of School Business Management and in 2015 was awarded the fellowship of NASBM, now known as ISBL (Institute of School Business Leadership). Suzanne was also the Finance Trustee in a Primary School in Lincolnshire.

With her experiences and skills Suzanne has always played an essential role in establishing new structures, ensuring they are robust enough to support growth. She has evaluated practice, advised and supported on all issues within the posts she has undertaken to ensure that arrangements are effective, enabling schools/trusts to meet their statutory obligations and achieve their strategic vision.

Suzanne is committed to maximising the welfare and education of all children through her work.

Other Business Interests

None

Your Name:
Anna Fisher

Governor Type:
Principal

Date Appointed:
2016

Term of Office: 

Appointment Ceases:

Relevant information about me

I became Principal at The Lancaster Academy in 2016.  Prior to this I was Vice Principal at Babington and part of a very exciting journey and team taking the school to an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted judgement.  Previously to working at Babington I worked in three secondary schools across three different counties.  Lancaster is a diverse community and I relish the opportunity that this role presents to make a real difference. We are like the world under one roof.

Other Business Interests

None

Your Name:
Tom Moore

Governor Type:
Vice Principal

Date Appointed:
2016

Term of Office: 

Appointment Ceases:

Tom has over 30 years’ experience in education, having taught in 5 different secondary schools.  His subject specialisms include Science, especially Physics, and Computer Science. Having gained a BSc. (Hons) in Physics with Computing and undertaken a PGCE, Tom taught secondary science for 5 years before returning to study himself to gain an MSc. in Information Technology.  With an updated and renewed enthusiasm for computing, Tom then returned to the teaching profession and moved up the career ladder from Head of Physics to Head of Science then to Assistant Principal and finally Vice Principal in two different schools.  In addition, Tom successfully completed the NPQH along the way.  Tom has always had a passion for the development of teaching, learning and assessment and ensuring that the curriculum provided meets the needs of all students, preparing them to progress either on to further/higher education or training.  Tom’s interests include travel, popular science, using technology and the internet to enhance teaching and learning and socialising with friends and family.

Other Business Interests

None

Your Name:
Hiren Pujani

Governor Type:
Community

Date Appointed:
30/10/2020

Term of Office: 

Appointment Ceases:

With over 10 years of experience working within the education sector, I have aided several schools create efficiencies. I began working as a Business Studies teacher in Manchester, very quickly became head of department within my second year and then moved over to teaching Maths in one of the largest secondary schools in Europe developing an understanding of the key challenges within schools.   

In my previous role I worked for the Times Educational Supplement (TES) as a Regional Director, responsible for building and developing relationships with schools, colleges and trusts, providing cost effective recruitment bearing in mind their key challenges of budgets. 

At Eteach as the Sales Director I am responsible for developing a clear strategic direction and building relationships with schools, colleges and trusts to aid proactive recruitment and improve internal processes as a recruitment partner.  

Other Business Interests

None

Your Name:
Shahina Valli

Governor Type:
Community

Date Appointed:
30/10/2020

Term of Office: 

Appointment Ceases:

My name is Shahina and I am an UKS2 teacher at a city school in Leicester and I have been teaching for 7 years. Prior to coming into education, I worked in Law and I completed a postgraduate course in legal practice before embarking on a career in teaching. At present, alongside leading the UKS2 team, I also lead the development of Oracy at the school and we have recently been given the role of being a lead school in this area, supporting other local schools to develop their teaching of oracy too. I have acted as a co-opted governor at my own school several years ago and this gave me a good understanding of how a good governing body can support the success of a school. I am a parent of two children and live with my husband, children and our kitten. I enjoy travelling, reading and dining out. I have a real passion for learning new skills and acquiring more knowledge about matters that interest me such as education and history. I look forward to joining the governing body at Lancaster and supporting the school on its journey to continued success. 

Other Business Interests

None

Your Name:
Gail Hammonds

Governor Type:
Community

Date Appointed:
01/01/2020

Term of Office: 

Appointment Ceases:

With over 20 years in senior management and a further 12 years establishing and running my own business I bring a wealth of strategic and operational leadership and management experience to the role of governor.  As an adoptive parent myself I have a keen interest in the schools approach to supporting the most vulnerable children.  From an educational perspective my experience originates from teaching in schools during a twelve month sabbatical in Kenya. Establishing an educational sponsorship programme on my return home has enabled me to be involved in the education and development of 44 children over a number of years.

Other Business Interests

None

Your Name:
Hilary Slocombe

Governor Type:
Community

Date Appointed:
15/11/2019

Term of Office: 

Appointment Ceases:

Relevant information about me:
Hilary has 14 years experience in manufacturing industries covering roles in cost accounting, production management and sales.  She ran her own business for 4 years whilst raising her children.  This was followed by 23 years experience in education as a teacher in midland secondary schools delivering GCSE, A Level and Vocational qualifications in Business, Economics and IT; and designing and delivering a variety of Key Skills and Foundation Learning courses.  She also worked extensively with primary schools in Burton upon Trent by designing and delivering pupil workshops to boost KS2 SATS preparedness alongside family education programmes to enhance parent/carer maths number confidence.  Hilary's interests include gardening, supporting local recycling schemes, coast path walking and motor sport.

Other Business Interests

Your Name:
Chris Wilkins

Governor Type:
Parent Governor

Date Appointed:
2018

Term of Office: 
4 years

Appointment Ceases:
31/08/2022

Relevant information about me:
Having switched career to become a primary school teacher after 10 years in the building trade and driving buses and trucks, I have since spent the last 20 years working in Higher Education, mostly working in supporting the training of teachers in the UK and the professional development of teachers internationally (particularly in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa).  I am currently Professor of Education, and Head of the School of Education, at the University of Leicester, a role which enables me to continue to work in close partnership with local and regional schools, colleges and Multi-Academy Trusts.

My commitment to local community involvement extends beyond my working hours; as well as being parent governor at Lancaster I am a community governor for a local primary school and serve on the Board of Members of a local Multi-Academy Trust – and in a rather different context I have been a Leader of a local Scout Group for the past 8 years (spanning the full age range from Beavers, through Cubs and to Scouts).  What little spare time is left I spend either walking in the countryside, (semi-skilled) gardening or trying to maintain some physical fitness in the gym.

Other Business Interests

Community Governor, Avenue Primary School Board Member, The Mead Educational Trust

Your Name:
Sandie Blount

Governor Type:
Parent Governor

Date Appointed:
01/09/2018

Term of Office: 
4 years

Appointment Ceases:
31/08/2022

I am a mother of 2 children my son is in year 10 at Lancaster. I have been a governor in a junior school since 2010 and joined the Governing team at Lancaster just over 2 years ago.

I work for an energy provider and am a qualified gas and electrical meter engineer.  I now work from home giving technical advice over the phone to other engineers and customers.

At home on top of the kids I live with my husband who I've been with for 18 years 2 cats, a few fish and 28 chickens. I love diy, crafting and audiobooks because it means I can multitask better.

Your Name:
Farhiyo Abdi

Governor Type:
Community

Date Appointed:
09/12/2020

Term of Office: 
4 years

Appointment Ceases:
08/12/2024

I am a dedicated and results driven individual, with experience in several avenues of community work.  I am very much a team player as I enjoy collaborative work. I believe my multitude of experiences have shaped me as a person.

I am a mother of 4 and 3 of my children are at a Secondary school age so I understand from a parent perspective. I am currently a CEO of a non-profit organisation assisting and supporting the most vulnerable families in the community. 

I am very passionate about the community and I hope that I can bring useful skills to the governing body and help in any way I can to contribute to their success.