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Governor Biographies
Michelle Weerasekera (Chair of Governors - Member Appointed Governor & Member of the Academy Trust)
I attended Nower Hill as a student, it was a much smaller school then as you arrived at the age of twelve and left at sixteen as there was no 6th Form. I am married and have three grown up daughters, I have spent time living in Singapore and in Hertfordshire, in 2003 I came back to live in Pinner.
I joined the Governing Board of Nower Hill in 2016 and in December 2020 I was elected as Chair. I have been a Magistrate in Hertfordshire since 2001 and sit as a Chair in Family Court. From 2012 until 2022, I was the Vice Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board in Harrow where I was appointed as a panel member on a number Serious Case Reviews and was involved in Multi-Agency Safeguarding Audits. In 2014, I was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education to Chair an Interim Executive Board to turn around a local school that was judged to be in urgent need of improvement, I was also Chair of a local primary school for six years from 2010 to 2016.
I am passionate about the education, welfare and protection of children and young people, to ensure that they are given every opportunity to succeed and grow in to well-rounded individuals. The vision, aim and values of Nower Hill fully support this passion and I am thrilled to be part of the team ensuring that we always have the highest of expectations for ourselves and our students.
Howard Freed (Vice Chair of Governors - Member Appointed Governor)
I am married and we have three children. Karen and I are retired teachers and all three daughters are teachers. We have lived in Ware, Hertfordshire, for 30 years.
I worked in London Secondary schools for 36 years including 22 years as Headteacher of Leytonstone School and Nower Hill. I retired from headship in August 2013 and since then I have worked as a coach/mentor with Headteachers and senior leaders and with schools on school improvement and development of leadership capacity, CPD, performance management and reviews of governance. I lead training for senior leaders, aspiring Deputy Heads and aspiring Heads with the Harrow Collegiate Teaching School Alliance. I also help to run the Moving to New Headship Programme in Hertfordshire.
I am delighted to be a governor at Nower Hill. I am currently Vice Chair of the Governing Board and Chair of the Resources Committee. I loved my 13 years as Headteacher of the school and feel privileged to be able to contribute something to the school in a different capacity as a governor. Nower Hill High School and the community it serves will always have a place in my heart.
Roy McKerracher (Member of the Academy Trust)
Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
20+ years as finance director of local manufacturing company, with experience also in HR and IT. Education experience includes school governor in Harrow since 2002 and at Nower Hill High School from 2006.
Treasurer for 15+ years of a number of local Harrow charities involved with young people.
Raluca Grecu (Staff Governor)
Having grown up in Romania, working in Finance with a strict academic pathway of education, I found myself travelling to the UK to build a new life for myself and my family. I have always been a creative person but was never encouraged to explore this avenue. After joining the Art Department at Nower Hill as a part-time technician a few years ago, I have been able to celebrate and develop my creative skills and passion for new experiences.
I have a daughter at Nower Hill and am now embracing school life as a parent, staff member, and Governor. I'm interested in how Nower Hill has such a positive impact on young people's education and life choices. I advocate for not just the academic route of their education but for those students who are desperately creative and encouraged by others to take a different path.
I'm looking forward to being a part of the governing team at Nower Hill High School, supporting young people to find a bright and enriched future through education.
Hiten Shah (Parent Governor)
I am a family person and resident of Harrow for more than twenty years. I have two lovely children, one who has recently joined the wonderful school community and has settled in so well.
I have a passion and commitment to equalities, diversity and inclusion as well as wider social justice issues in both my personal and professional life. I have worked in many and varied organisations and written or co-written a number of publications and guidance for practitioner use. I also believe in giving all children, no matter their backgrounds or abilities, the best and equality of opportunity throughout their journey at school, be it in the curriculum or after-school activities, and to be ready for the world beyond the school.
I have significant experience of working at board level. I am personable with an ability to enthuse others, and will work with the Board as a collective whilst acting as a ‘critical friend’. I will support the school, its staff and the Senior Leadership Team to continue the great work and successes achieved to date, for the benefit of our children.
Hugh Brown (Parent Governor)
Having grown up in Pinner, I now live close to Nower Hill with my partner and our children. With our eldest thriving at Nower Hill, and two younger ones to follow, Nower Hill is sure to be a big part of my life for many years to come.
I’m an IT consultant by profession, specialising in project delivery, with much of that time spent in education, and the public sector. As well as my professional experience, I bring 5 years’ experience as a governor at another high school, where I’ve chaired the Resources Committee. This experience also includes: being on pay review committee, contract procurement, IT strategy and health & safety, plus more besides – there’s a lot to being a governor!
After spending so long supporting a school that my children don’t attend, I’m really excited to be a governor at my own child’s school. As a Nower Hill governor, I’ll do all that I can to safeguard every student’s right to a happy, memorable and successful time at high school, and to ensure that every child has the very best opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstance.
Kirti Jeram (Co-opted Governor)
I am a flexible working mum of 2 children, my son Aryan started at Nower Hill in year 7 in September and my daughter attends Pinner Park Primary school. I stood for election as a parent governor as I have a passion in promoting children’s education and supporting the development of the school as much as I possibly can.
Although new to Nower Hill, I do appreciate the outstanding reputation it has and I would like to contribute to the continuation of that progress. Having lived in the area for many years, I have a good understanding of the surrounding community. I feel that I can cast an independent eye over the workings of the school and bring a fresh perspective to the work of the existing governors.
I have worked in the city for top tier financial institutions for the past 18 years and currently I work at Bank of America. Having worked within the banking industry, I have become a true professional with excellent influencing skills and the ability to communicate effectively and build working relationships at all levels. My current role is one of governance, control and oversight all skills I feel would be beneficial to the school. I am also the Bank of America ambassador for the Inspire the Future program, a UK charity that enables schools to connect with inspirational volunteers from the world of work quickly and easily, revolutionising the way in which young people get insights into exciting and unique careers and inspiring them to be ambitious. I believe that your past should not define your future.
I will work with energy and enthusiasm to help Nower Hill maintain its high standards, and meet future challenges. I feel I understand the requirements of the role, and hope that I would be approachable and accessible to other parents. I would be privileged to represent parents and carers in this way.
Saba Syed (Member Appointed Governor)
I am local to Harrow, born and bred, and a parent of a student in Year 7 at Nower Hill. I was a community governor at Pinner Park Junior School for just under 8 years, supporting the school’s growth under the Headteacher’s leadership. When I became a parent of a Pinner Park student two years later, I had the opportunity to connect with other parents, and benefitted from a network of friendships. With this mutual support and collaboration, we resurrected Pinner Park’s PTA, for which I was the treasurer in the first year.
Professionally, I am experienced in delivery and project management of a range of publishing and digital projects, gaining skills in resource and financial management. I’ve worked in the public sector (health, education, archives) and in the private sector in media, print publishing and online. I am currently the head of business development at the British Library, developing products and services and responsible for a multi-million pound revenue target.
Outside of work, I am involved with Tongues on Fire – UK Asian Film Festival, a local arts organisation delivering an annual international film festival, starting as the festival coordinator and now on the board of directors, as Operations Director. I am also the treasurer, and a founding member, of the Friends of Headstone Manor Park.
I enjoy being part of the wider community and using my experience to support organisations in meeting their strategic objectives, ensuring good financial management and a high standard of delivery. I am interested in seeing the value I could add to an outstanding local high school, with a new Headteacher and new members of its governing body.
Carolyn Hector (Co-opted Governor)
I have lived in Pinner for most of my life and I am passionate about education and opportunities for all, and I am keen to support this by working in my local community. I am an experienced school governor, previously chair of Pinner Wood school until 2021. I am also the Chair of the St Luke’s Hospice Shops Board, the shops and hospice serves the local communities across Harrow and Brent.
My professional roles are as an experienced marketing and board director for a number of prominent brands and organisations across the Financial Services industry. More recently I have taken these skills and applied them to the charity sector, I am currently Director of Marketing, Brand and Product Development for Age Co, the trading and commercial arm of Age UK.
Claire Larkman (Co-opted Governor)
I am a CIMA qualified accountant with several years’ experience working across a number of organisations, both in the private and public sectors. I have always had an interest in Education and studied Education with Mathematics at Warwick University, before joining the NHS Financial Management Training Scheme after I graduated. From there I went on to work as a Management Accountant in various NHS organisations, and later for Marks and Spencer in their Head Office.
In 2014 I decided to pursue a career in School Business Management. My first position was in a primary school in Camden, where I studied for the Certificate of School Business Management (CSBM) qualification. Since then I have worked as School Business Manager in two Harrow primary schools including West Lodge where I have been since 2019. In this role I am responsible for all aspects of school business management including finance, recruitment, health and safety and the school office/admin function. I have also implemented a number of new systems to improve efficiency within the school, and have recently managed the transition to new school Management Information and Finance systems.
I have previously served as a parent governor at my children’s primary school and attend Governing Board meetings regularly in my current role.
I have had personal experience of Nower Hill; my daughter was Head Girl from 2021-22 and is now at Exeter University, so I have witnessed for myself the dedication and commitment of the staff and leadership of the school. I am proud to serve as a member of the Governing Board and help support the continued success of this outstanding school.
Alicia Patel (Parent Governor)
I have lived in Harrow for 11 years and have two children, one who is a student at Nower Hill and one who is due to join shortly.
I have worked in the civil service for the past 17 years and have a varied background in HR operations, data analysis, and resource planning and project management.
I believe every child deserves access to high-quality learning opportunities and am excited to work with the other governors to ensure that Nower Hill High School continues to provide a supportive and enriching environment where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Miriam Manderson (Member of the Academy Trust)
As a parent of secondary aged children, my vision for education is that there exists true equality of opportunity through an equal status from one school to the next. I am a fellow Harrow resident and a Headteacher of a neighbouring Harrow secondary school, so it gives me great honour to sit on the Board of Trustees at Nower Hill High School.
With over 25 years in education and being a headteacher since 2019, I am fully committed to ensuring that we all continue to provide parents and children with a secondary education service which is second to none. I have worked in the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent and now I am happy to be giving back to the community in which I live. I speak four languages and believe that languages provide a window to understanding the world. I love working in schools, which have a vibrant and diverse population such as Nower Hill’s and wish I could speak every language on earth to fully engage with our global community! It is an exciting time for Nower Hill High School and I am proud to join the team for the journey.
Reverend Michael Stuart Nattrass CBE (Member of the Academy Trust)
Brought up on Tyneside. Went to Manchester University. Ordained as a C of E priest in mid 1960's and served in 2 colliery parishes before becoming a worker-priest. Worked in the Health and and Safety Executive for 29 years (inspector of factories, training manager, Area Director, Regional Director London and S.East and HM Chief Inspector of Contruction). After HSE for 13 years was a non-Executive director or external adviser to Docklands Light Railway, Transport for London, Crossrail and Costain). Moved to Pinner in 1976. Was a non-stipendiary curate at Pinner Parish Church until 2005 and still assist occasionally. Was a Magistrate in adult and family courts. Interests are classical and jazz music (I ran Jazz at Pinner Parish Church for 20 years), theatre, Bridge, caravanning. Married to Dorothy, who was a probation officer then a social worker. Our 2 children went to Nower Hill, where our daughter Claire was Head Girl.
