Hello, my name is Susan (Sue) Penman.

I am a mother, grandmother, and great-grandma. Before I retired, I worked in the finance department in local government for over 20 years. During this time, I also taught swimming to people of all ages for 36 years.

I have been involved in governorship for over 18 years, clerking meetings in BwDBC in numerous schools. I became a governor at Spring Hill in 2018 and was proud and honoured to be elected as Chair of Governors in 2020.

As Chair of Governors, I volunteer my time to support the school and stay actively involved. Being committed to the school’s success I am regularly on site speaking with staff and pupils so I can stay connected with school life. I also take part in governor afternoons which give me the chance to see learning in action and celebrate the achievements of our school community.

I have significant experience in school finance, because of my background, so I ensure that there is a robust budget oversight, support the financial efficiency and ensure value for money.

I believe that learning is a key to every child’s future, and, in the right environment children can have a positive attitude to learning and thrive to their full potential by receiving a well-rounded, enriching, and inspiring curriculum.

Being on your governing board has enabled me to see the opportunities being given to your children and I am one of the people who ensure there are effective policies in place and the resources it needs to provide the rich and stimulating learning environment for all pupils.

I fully support the wonderful dedicated staff and will continue to support the future changes in school, so that your children can have the best start to their learning journey that Spring Hill can give.

My name is Kamran Mahmood, and I have proudly served as a governor at Spring Hill Community Primary School since 2024. I have lived and worked in the local community all my life, and I am deeply committed to its growth and wellbeing.

In addition to my role as a school governor, I have been part of the Management Team at the local Mosque and Madrassa since 2016. I play an active role in supporting the education of the children who attend our classes, helping to shape their learning and development in a nurturing environment.

Our Madrassa serves over 350 children, most of whom are from the local area and either currently attend or have previously attended Spring Hill. This close connection allows me to help bridge the gap between the school and the mosque, ensuring that the voices and concerns of the community are heard and addressed collaboratively.

I became a governor at Spring Hill to contribute to positive change. I believe that meaningful transformation in our community begins with our children, who represent our future. My aim is to support the school in providing the highest quality education, accessible to all, and reflective of our diverse community.

As part of my governor responsibilities, I focus on Equality and Diversity and English, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially in an inclusive environment.

Emma Gardiner

It has been a real pleasure and a privilege to be a Governor at Spring Hill since 2022.

I live in Oswaldtwistle, and I wanted to use my experience as a headteacher to give something back to the community I’m proud to be part of. 

I love travelling, cooking, and spending time with my family. 

Being a governor has given me the chance to support the wonderful vision and ethos that Mrs Wilson and her team have created at Spring Hill, to celebrate the school’s many successes, and to help make sure that all pupils continue to flourish and thrive in a safe and inspirational environment.

I share Spring Hill’s belief in giving every child the best possible start in life—recognising their individual gifts and personalities, and encouraging them to be the very best they can be, both in their learning, and in the way they behave and care for others.

My main area of responsibility as a governor is ‘Achievement’. 

My name is Saleem Ditta and I am proud to be a governor at Spring Hill Community Primary School. I used to be a pupil here myself, so it means a lot to come back and help the school that helped me when I was young.

I became involved with the school again through grassroots football. I worked with the school to use the outdoor pitch, and after some time, I was asked if I would like to become a co-opted governor, I was honoured to say yes.

I have been involved in local football for more than 17 years and now as a founder of Lancashire United, where one of my aims is to help more children from our community get chances to play sports and be part of positive activities. In the same way, I want every pupil at Spring Hill to have the best start in life - to feel confident, to believe in themselves and to know that they can achieve great things.

In my day job I work as a Pre-Sales Consultant in the technology sector. The foundations I learnt at Spring Hill have played a big part in both my academic and professional life, especially subjects like English and Maths.

As a British South Asian Muslim, I understand the community that our school serves. I want to promote kindness, respect and opportunity for every child, no matter their background. These are the same values we follow at Lancashire United, where our motto is “Everyone matters”.

This school year, my main area to oversee is Maths. I will work with teachers and other governors to make sure pupils are supported and challenged to reach their potential.

If you see me at school, please feel free to come and say hello, I’m always happy to chat with parents and families.

Helen Tyson

I was delighted to be appointed as a Co-opted Governor at Spring Hill Primary School in late 2023.

I have worked in the PE, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA) sector for over 16 years, building strong and trusted relationships with schools across East Lancashire, including Spring Hill. My role involves supporting schools with their PE, school sport and physical activity provision, leading the delivery of the National School Games programme, ensuring the PE and School Sport Premium is used effectively, and providing professional learning opportunities for staff.

My connection to Spring Hill has grown through this work, and I have seen first-hand the school’s commitment to giving every child opportunities to be active, confident, and healthy.

As a self-confessed fitness enthusiast, I hold a degree with honours in Leisure and Sports Development and began my career managing fitness gyms. When I’m not working, I can often be found training for races, taking on fitness challenges, or enjoying any kind of sport or exercise. Physical activity and movement are central to my life, and they have always been my ‘go-to’ during challenging times.

From lived experience, I know that sport and physical activity can transform lives. This belief drives me as a governor,  to help every child experience the power of play, movement, and belonging. I am passionate about supporting Spring Hill to achieve its vision and am honoured to have the opportunity to help shape the lives of young people and the wider school community.

Within my role, I have specific responsibility for overseeing the PE and Sports Premium funding, ensuring it is used to make a measurable difference to pupils’ wellbeing, engagement, and enjoyment of school life.

I am Stephanie Grimshaw. I have been associated with Spring Hill Community Primary school since 1984. I have been a class teacher, deputy headteacher and headteacher at the school. I now have the privilege of being a school Governor here.

I was asked to take on this role in 2024, by the current headteacher Mrs Wilson. Having been retired since the beginning of 2017 I had mixed feelings, about agreeing to her request. Whilst being thrilled at the prospect of once more being involved in the school and community I am passionate about, I was apprehensive about taking on the responsibilities of being a school Governor.

My lifelong interest has been in the education of children, with my specialisms being English and Physical Education. I also enjoy the outdoors especially long-distance walking, adventure and travel. I have always enjoyed photography and gardening but remain an enthusiastic amateur in both.

As a Governor, I would like to help the school to be an even more significant feature within the community we serve. I would like to help Spring Hill fulfil their vision - particularly in helping children to be happy, ambitious learners and in giving them opportunities to develop the skills and aptitudes to be honest, caring, capable and competent members of their community, who make valued and valuable contributions throughout their lives.

As a Governor I have been given responsibility for overseeing Reading and Equality and Diversity.

Adam Johnson

I have been proud to serve as a Governor at Spring Hill Primary School since 2020 and currently hold the position of Vice Chair of Governors. Being part of the governing body has given me the opportunity to support a school that is at the heart of its community and is committed to helping every child succeed.

I am a senior leader at a primary school in Blackburn and have worked as a teacher for over 20 years. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about ensuring that all children receive the highest quality education and the opportunities they need to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. This is one of the reasons I am particularly committed to supporting disadvantaged pupils and helping to ensure that every child at Spring Hill receives the very best start in life.

My professional interests lie particularly in mathematics and computing. I believe these subjects play a vital role in preparing young people for the future, developing problem-solving skills and confidence. I am especially excited by Spring Hill’s commitment to technology and the opportunities that the school’s digital programme provides for enriching learning and developing pupils’ digital skills.

As a governor, I am proud to support the vision, values and ambitions of the school, helping to ensure that every pupil is given the opportunity to flourish academically and socially. I look forward to continuing to work alongside staff, governors and the wider school community to support Spring Hill’s ongoing success.

Sameena Zaman

My name is Sameena Zaman and I have been a Governor at Springhill School for many years and I am proud to be part of the local community, where I have lived for a long time. My role as a Governor provides me with the opportunity to support the school’s vision and work alongside the dedicated and talented staff. Within my role at Springhill I have worked alongside the children as a learning mentor and in my current role as a Speech and Language assistant.

I am committed to helping the school continue to thrive, ensuring that it remains a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where all children can succeed. Being part of the governing body allows me to contribute to the ongoing development of the school and to support the high standards and positive ethos that make Springhill such a special place.