Governors

 

Gareth Thomas – Vice Chair

Gareth has extensive leadership and management experience across the education sector both in mainstream/SEND and Independent sectors.

Gareth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and a Level 4 Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Gareth has been a Headteacher in a variety of settings, and specialises in stabilising schools in challenging circumstances and removing schools from OFSTED categories.

Gareth undertakes commissioned whole school reviews in preparation for OFSTED and Independent School Inspections.

Gareth’s expertise is supporting schools that require rapid change, particularly in the implementation of leadership and management, safeguarding and compliance.

Gareth provides bespoke training to school leaders, Governing Bodies, Advisory Boards, on safeguarding, behaviour, curriculum development and aspects of the OFSTED framework.

He also leads on the coaching/mentoring of Newly Qualified Teacher’s and the training of aspiring Middle and Senior Leadership Teams.

Term of Office: 4 years from 16.11.2021

Latif Khan – Foundation Governor

I have held many posts in the Slough community aswell as being a Trustee of the Foundation Trust of Iqra.

my posts include: Pakistan Welfare AssociationVice President, General Secretary and President 1978 to 1981 & 2001 to 2003 -Jamia Masjid & Islamic CentreFounder Trustee / Secretary 1982 to date – Berkshire County Council County Councillor, representing Farnham Ward 1993 to 1998 – Slough Borough Council Councillor, representing Wexham Ward, Cabinet Commissioner 2004/2005 and Mayor of Slough year 2005/20062004 to 2010 – Baylis Court Secondary SchoolParent Governor 1994 to 2000 – Slough and Eton Secondary School LEA Governor, was Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Governing Board 1997 to 2006 -Race Equality Council Director 2003 to 2012 -CABDirector1998 to 2003 -Link Governor IqraEthos/Health & Safety -Current

Term of Office: 4 Years as from 1.9.24

David Sparrow – Foundation Governor

David trained in photography, and worked in local journalism before starting his own photographic business, which he ran for thirty years before founding Art Beyond Belief in 2005. He was winner of the 3rd Olympiad of Colour Photography in 1980. He has illustrated many books on automotive design and motoring, and his work has been featured in high profile magazines and journals. David is the creative lead and project manager for all Art Beyond Belief projects.

David also developed and delivered ABB’s Art Monitor programme, again funded by the Arts Council England, designed to foster self-confidence and self-determination to vulnerable groups in the areas of domestic violence, mental health, autism and learning disability, using his interest and fascination with colour as a fundamental tool in this work.

In 2009 he took the project a stage further, designing with Clinical Psychologist Emel Soylu, Art Beyond Belief’s three year Rucksack programme, a project with innovative cutting edge visual tools specially developed to work with children and young adults with Aspergers Syndrome and their families.

David is Co-Chair of Slough Faith Partnership, a position he holds jointly with Mr Zafar Ali. David has been a Governors of IQRA school since 2008.

Term of Office: 4 Years as from 01/09/2019

Hasan Imam LA Governor

I became a governor at lqra in order to support its transforming into an outstanding school and beyond. I am also a parent governor at Lea Nursery and helping to contribute to its ongoing success.

Education history: MBA, DIC, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (1994 – 1995) – Bsc(Hons) Management, London School of Economics and Political Science (1991- 1994) – Abbey Tutorial College (1990-1991) – Leighton Park School (1985 – 1990)

Career history: Senior Account Manager (Mental Health division), Johnson & Johnson (2010 – present) – Network Manager, Pfizer (2006 – 2010) – Territory Manager, Johnson & Johnson (1998 – 2006) – Systems Analyst, Procter & Gamble (1996 – 1998)

Professional qualifications: WRAP (Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent). Accreditation no. 9730610 (May 2015) – Diploma on the NHS, Wellards Academy (March 2008) – ABPI (Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries) (May 2005) – Diploma in OTC, Healthcare.PAGB (Pharmaceutical Association of Great Britain) February 1999

Other activities: 

Regular contributor on LBC Radio phone-in show (present): Company Secretary and Co-Founder of Akin Holdings International Ltd. – involved in property development in Europe (present) – Have advised psychiatrists and mental health nurses in West London Mental Health Trust on combating extremism (2014) –  Surrey County Council Candidate (2009) – Parliamentary Candidate (2005) – West Sussex County Council Candidate (2001) – Trained as a Telephone Counsellor for ChildLine (1996)

Term of Office: 4 years as from June 2019

Pav Dhillon – Staff Governor 
I am delighted to be the staff governor for the school. As a member of the school community I share a vision to broaden the horizons of all pupils by providing them a curriculum that has amazing opportunities and goes above and beyond. Being part of the governing body will allow me to work in collaboration to ensure that the school continues to be high performing and a successful school.
 
As the Assistant Head Teacher in the school, I  have a deep understanding of the different aspects of school life from curriculum, finances, safeguarding, premises and much more. As a Governor I recognise that the most important role to be the safety, welfare and education of all pupils. As  a Governor I will ensure that I communicate my ideas effectively, am professional and work effectively as a team for the betterment of the school.
 
I look forward to being part of this team and making a difference to the school

Sadia Yasir – Foundation Governor – Term of office 4 years from June 2020

I would like to introduce my self as the foundation governors of Iqra Primary School. I am honoured to be elected into an important position of such a fantastic and vibrant school.

I currently have three children attending Iqra Primary School. My ambition remains to help the school deliver a first class education for all the children at Iqra Primary School.

I look forward to meeting many of you parents, carers, guardians, student and staff over the coming months Inshallah and should you have questions for me I can be contacted via the school.

Mirza Baig – Parent Governor

I have a first class Honours Degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brooks University and I am a qualified accountant by profession. I worked ten years in accounting practice as a certified accountant and then joined a multi academy Trust in Slough as Trust Finance Manager. I have gained substantial experience in audit and accountancy and have now developed expertise in Educational Finance. I have recently been elected as Parent Governor at Iqra and look forward to make positive contribution towards development of my child’s school.I am married with two children.

Saima Ahmed – Parent Governor – Term of Office 4 years from January 2024

I have been a civil servant for 13 years working in the Department for Education for over 10 years.  I am an analyst by profession, currently working in the executive agency Education Funding and Skills Funding Agency which is responsible for funding education and skills for children, young people and adults. My various roles at the department have inbuilt experience in analytical work.

Becoming a parent governor for Iqra Primary will be a rewarding and valuable responsibility for me. I want to actively be involved in shaping the education provided by the school that positively impacts the lives of children and families in my community. I would be committed to this crucial role.

Ghulam Abbas – Foundation Governor – 4 years from 12.2.24

 

I have over 7 years business development and consultancy experience in the private sector coupled with over 13 years’ experience working in Central Government at a senior leadership level with an excellent understanding of the English education system and its current reforms. I possess good strategy development skills, able to work with a wide range of customers to build and implement sophisticated ideas and plans that explicitly meet business needs. I’m highly focused with a consistent track record of successfully delivering work to tight time scales and within budget.  I have a successful history of managing large, multi-stream and complex projects from inception through to implementation and conclusion, including over 30 Free School Projects.

Shaheen Hirji – Foundation Governor – 4 years from 12.2.24

As a business analyst for a leading international law firm, I developed information systems and processes across the organisation before transferring my skills to the education sector as the Founding Trustee of a faith designated Free School. I led on the development of the application and pre-opening phase of the project to turn the Trust’s vision into reality, and has served as Chair of Trustees since the school opened in 2020.

I was recruited as Operations Manager for an academy trust of Free Schools in 2017 and had oversight of HR, estates, ICT, governance, procurement, data protection and new school development. I managed all operational aspects of the successful transfer of schools to a larger trust before moving to my current role in 2021 where I am Head of Operations for a large inner London primary school.

Governors have responsibility for:

  • Special educational needs and disabilities
  • Safeguarding
  • Pupil Premium and Sports Premium
  • Islamic Ethos
  • Health and Safety
  • Educational Standards
Declaration of Pecuniary Interests