Governors

Local Governing Body Members

Andrea Hepplestone – Chair of Governors

As a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for school improvement, Andrea has a proven track record of school improvement and providing support for schools in challenging circumstances: she has supported both junior and high schools in Special Measures and National Challenge schools in Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

Andrea has extensive knowledge and experience of the Ofsted Framework and has worked closely with HMI as part of the inspection process and with schools during the inspection. More recently, she has focused on working with schools to ensure outstanding outcomes in all areas.

Prior to working for Star (formerly Tauheedul Education Trust), she worked for National Strategies locally as a consultant and also as a Regional Adviser at national level in the Closing the Gaps team.

Shabnum Makba – Lead Governor for SEND

Shabnum has been in education for 14 years, having started out as a teaching assistant and then qualifying as a teacher in 2013. She works as a class teacher at Roe Lee Park primary school and is familiar with the role of different people in the education of our children. She is extremely committed and passionate about the education that children receive at Pleckgate.

Alexandra Burrill – Vice-Chair and Lead Governor for Safeguarding

Alex, a former Pleckgate pupil, is the Resource Planning Manager for Lancashire County Council and has responsibility for customer access and communication, management information, analysis of data and forecasting. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in project management, the design and delivery of training and development and communication platforms. She has experience of working across multiple sites to meet tight deadlines whilst minimising disruption to services. Alex leads on the development and delivery on small and medium business projects. She also delivers and manages complex and high-risk services, assignments and activities within social care and the wider council.

Helen Rawnsley – Lead Governor for Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Helen has worked in Education for over 13 years having started her career at Our Lady & St John Catholic College in the finance department.

Helen is currently the School Business Manager for The Heights Blackburn and brings a vast amount of experience in HR, Finance and Health & Safety within schools, which she believes is instrumental in her performance as a Governor at Pleckgate High School.

Ibrar Hussain – Parent Governor and Lead Governor for Disadvantaged Pupils

Ibrar has two children attending Pleckgate High School and is proud to have been elected Parent Governor. As a former pupil of the school Ibrar has a passion for supporting the school in any way and wishes to see all the children leave Pleckgate with great memories, solid educational development, and a healthy mind-set to achieve success in their adult life. Ibrar is also Parent Governor at a local primary school and has chaired the Curriculum Committee for over 3 years.  Ibrar is a practising Solicitor and in his spare time plays cricket for a local club.

Shazia Hassan – Parent Governor

Shazia has been a qualified medical doctor for over twenty years, during this time she has worked for the NHS, undertaken voluntary medical work abroad and is currently employed by the University of Central Lancashire as a Medical Examiner for the Medical School. She has four children, two of which are currently studying at Pleckgate, one having left in 2020 and one in a local primary school and is currently serving as Parent Governor at a local primary school. She is dedicated to positively improving the experiences and outcomes of the Pleckgate High School community and wishes to contribute to the ongoing excellence within the school.

Heather Cross-Costello – Lead Governor for Finance

Heather is an Associate Assistant Headteacher and is responsible for the wellbeing and mental health provision at Burnley High School. Heather has experience leading the MFL and Performing Arts departments, ensuring students are exposed to a broad and culture rich curriculum. Heather also has a wealth of experience as a Head of Year and is passionate about identifying and breaking down barriers to learning so that all students thrive during their studies and are prepared for life beyond school.

Local Governing Body Information