Full Name

Liz Upton

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Sponsor and Chair of Academy Community Council (ACC)

Appointed by

Appointed by the Sponsor

Subcommittees 

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

None

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

Pay Committee: 1/1

A few words from Liz:

I’m really excited to have joined the Academy Governing Council (AGC) as the Chair of Governors for Co-op Academy Penny Oaks who joined the Trust on 1 September 2023. It's great for us all to now be part of the Co-op family - I can already see we have a fantastic school and I am looking forward to being part of their continued success!

I’ve previously been a school governor and have spent nearly 16 years at the Co-op working across many roles including project management, strategy, and colleague communication & engagement. I am passionate about helping to nurture the positive and inclusive environment at the school to ensure the amazing children at Penny Oaks continue to enjoy a positive, well-rounded educational experience so that they can achieve their goals and ambitions in their future.

Outside of work, I can often be found trying to “build memories” with my children (often dragging them outdoors in the cold and wet or getting them involved in some sort of cooking!) or at my local Jujitsu club trying desperately to improve my skills little by little each week – easier said than done!

I’m really looking forward to getting to know the school, the children, and their families more over time.

Full Name

Simon Gallacher

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Community

Appointed by

Appointed by the Sponsor

Subcommittees 

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

21 September 2021 to present:

Director at Collaborative Education Support Ltd

1 October 2022 to present:

Headteacher at Westminster CofE Primary Academy Trust (part of the BDAT Trust)

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

Pay Committee: 1/1

A few words from Simon:

I've been a governor here for 4 years and am delighted to have renewed my link with the school, as it begins it's exciting journey as Co-op Academy Penny Oaks.

I am Headteacher at Westminster Primary, just off Otley Road, and have had links with the staff here at Penny Oaks for many years having worked in Bradford since 2012. This school is a wonderful, vibrant place and I can't wait to see where we go next!

When I'm not Headteachering or Governing, I am a Dad to two young girls who keep me very much on my toes and Husband to Clare - another teacher! Life is always busy but we enjoy being active: swimming, playing football and practising gymnastics (the girls, not me!) and spending weekends visiting friends and family. Not much rest time!

I hope to meet you in person soon, at one of the many events our school holds to help build and grow our Penny Oaks community.

Full Name

Caroline Hyde

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Community

Appointed by

Appointed by the Sponsor

Subcommittees 

None

Declarations of Interest

11 Oct 2016 to 1 Jun 2021:

I was Deputy Director of Education, which included what is now Penny Oaks Academy and the Trust we transitioned through to join Co-op (BCWCAT), Director, Governor and Manager for Diocese of Leeds

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

3/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

n/a

A few words from Caroline:

I was the Deputy Director of Education for the Diocese of Leeds, so I had been working closely with the governors and staff at the school for several years.  I became a governor to help support the conversion of St Mary's and St Peter's to Co-op Academy Penny Oaks.  I love working with everyone and was honoured when I was asked to stay on as a Community Governor, and we are now firmly established as part of the Co-op Academies Trust.

I have over 25 years' experience as a governor in all different types of schools, as well as working with and training school leaders, governors and local councils.  I have been very lucky to have had a great education, and then the pleasure of seeing all three of my children benefit from the schools they attended in Bristol, Ilkley and Leeds.  I see being a governor as a way of helping offer the same opportunities to children and young people today and in the future.

I live in Ilkley and am now retired, although I do some consultancy work with schools and governance training.  I also help coordinate a support group for Ukrainian refugees.  I love walking and this summer I am planning to do a 120-mile walk over several days with friends in the Highlands of Scotland.  I grow vegetables in my garden and love cooking.  My children are now grown up, but I have 3 small grandchildren, including baby twins, who keep me very busy.

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks is a wonderful academy with great children and staff, and I am very proud to be part of it.

Full Name

Dee Varanda

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Community

Appointed by

Appointed by the Sponsor

Subcommittees 

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

None

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2022/23

Pay Committee: 1/1

A few words from Dee:

I started as a Parent Governor and was previously Chair of Governors when we were St Mary's and St Peter's Primary school.  I have enjoyed my role of governor and being part of this great community we have which offers our children the opportunity to learn and thrive.

Since St Mary's and St Peter's Primary School converted to Co-op Academy Penny Oaks, I was eager to continue my role as governor and am now a Community Governor for the academy, which has given me the opportunity to network with a vast number of governors across the Trust with different experiences and expertise and I really look forward to learning a lot and increasing the positive learning already in place within the academy.

My children attend Co-op Academy Penny Oaks, so I can relate to the praises and worries that other parents may have.  However, as a whole, I'm positive that we can work together to give our children the best possible outcomes.

Full Name

Michelle Khambhaita

Date of appointment

Term of office

N/A

Category of CCM

Ex-officio

Appointed by

By virtue of appointment as Headteacher

Subcommittees 

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

None

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

Pay Committee: 1/1

Full Name

Tazeem Akhtar

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Parent

Appointed by

Elected by parents

Subcommittees 

None

Declarations of Interest

None

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

n/a

A few words from Tazeem:

I have been Parent and SEND Link Governor for a year and I am enjoying the role along with the responsibilities.

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks (Formerly St Peter’s and then St Mary’s and St Peter’s) has been part of my life for a long time. I attended this school as a child and my children followed in my footsteps.

Full Name

Emmerson Walgrove

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Community

Appointed by

Appointed by the AGC

Subcommittees 

None

Declarations of Interest

8 July 2024 to present:

Other governance role at Prism Youth Project and Independent School

4 December 2023 to present:

Director and Trustee at Sight Airedale

29 July 2019 to present:

Director and Trustee at Bradford Cyrenians

8 November 2014 to present:

Chair and Safeguarding Officer at The Company of Servers (CoS) Diocese of Leeds Chapter

15 April 2019 to present:

Parochial Church Council (PCC) at The Parish of Saint Chad's Toller Lane, Bradford

22 May 2017 to present:

Honorary Visiting Service user and Career Representative at University of Bradford

19 May 2014 to present:

Deputy Chair at The City of Bradford Festival of Talent

14 May 2001 to present: 

Chair at Speakout Bradford and District

4 October 2021 to present:

Social Media Manager at Disabled People's Action Group (DPAG)

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/2024

2/4

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

n/a

A few words from Emmerson:

I have lived in the Bradford District all my life and regularly attend the
Parish of S. Chad’s, Toller Lane, Bradford, where I am a Trustee, and I am
also the Chair and Safeguarding Officer at the Company of Servers (CoS)
Diocese of Leeds Chapter.

I have been the Deputy Chair of the City of Bradford Festival of Talent since
2015, which is for Primary and Secondary school children in the Bradford
District to perform and shine on the stage, but who might otherwise never
get the opportunity and the competition has been held every year since
2015.

Recently I became a Director and Trustee of Sight Airedale which is a
charity that supports local people living with sight loss. I have been a
Director and Trustee of Bradford Cyrenians for over 8 years, which aims to
provide flexible, preventative support services to vulnerable communities
and the homeless who present with a wide range of multiple complex
issues.

Full Name

Laura Atkinson

Date of appointment

Term of office

4 Years

Category of CCM

Staff

Appointed by

Elected by staff

Subcommittees 

None

Declarations of Interest

None

Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings 2023/24

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings 2023/24

n/a

A few words from Laura:

Since joining the school as a trainee teacher in 2020, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our pupils and their families. I am currently the Year 3 class teacher and the Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish) subject lead. Recently, I have completed a Masters of Education, with Sheffield Hallam University, and hope to draw upon this in my role as a governor. I am excited to be a part of the Academy Governing Council (AGC) and to have the opportunity to help shape and continue to strengthen our school.

For over 15 years I have been a volunteer with Brownie and Guide groups, working with children between the ages of 7 and 14. As part of this I have offered children a wide range of experiences, from DIY to ziplining, aimed at helping gain key life skills and become well-rounded individuals. This is something I am passionate about and keen to share with the pupils at Penny Oaks.

In my spare time I am an avid reader and like to travel to new places.