Ben Nye

Chair of Governors

My twins joined Thornhill in 2019 and I felt I wanted to get involved too; joining the Governing Body felt like a natural fit. I come from London originally, but have lived in Houghton Regis for a few years now, so I feel I know the area well.

I'm also a Journalist at BBC Three Counties Radio so I'm up to date with what's happening in the local area and beyond.

I feel my background as a journalist gives me the skills to cast an analytical eye over what's happening at Thornhill, but also - I hope - the communication skills to help encourage wider discussions as a school community. I firmly believe that it takes many different people, organisations and influences to help raise and educate our children and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to help the school attain the high ambitions it has for the future

Co-opted Governor

I am so pleased to serve on Thornhill’s governing board at this exciting time. I was born in Houghton Regis and have lived here ever since. In 2019, I was elected a town councillor for Tithe Farm.  As a councillor, I serve on the environment and leisure and community services committees, so I am particularly interested in the developments that are taking place.

I studied for an education degree at Hertfordshire University specialising in music and sport. I teach in a special needs school locally and along with my Head of Year role, I have a keen interest in computing and IT.

In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit, attending a local netball and badminton club.

Co-opted Governor

I have recently moved into the area and I wanted to get involved in my local community so I decided to join the Thornhill governing board. I feel it is a governors' duty to ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction where the school is concerned. A Governor has to play their part in holding the senior leadership team to account for the educational performance of the school and its students and the performance management of staff. I am committed to doing this, so the school can excel. 

I have worked in the education sector for a number of years and I will draw from my experience as an IT professional when assisting the school. I believe that Thornhill has got a bright future ahead and I want to do my part to make the school a better place for all the students, teachers and parents.

Samera Jamil

Parent Governor

I feel very proud and privileged to be a member of such a dedicated board of governors and such a fine education establishment. I feel the skills and experience I have gained in my personal life and my professional career as a teacher working with children from all walks of life from the North and South of England will enable me to be a valued member to the team.

I am a qualified and experienced Primary School Teacher specialising in Early Years, which has given me a great understanding in the importance of creating a safe and nourishing environment for children to grow and develop. As well as a primary school teacher I am also a mother to two young boys, one is a current student and the other a future student at Thornhill Primary School, which lays the pathway to a long relationship with the school in many ways.

Previously I have worked with Usborne Books at Home where I led baby book groups shared content on how to encourage the love of books from an early age. My goal is to contribute towards shaping the future of our children’s lives and providing them with the best opportunities and I believe being part of the board of governors will be a great step for that.

Parent Governor

Last year my family and I moved to Houghton Regis and were delighted to learn our little one would be joining Thornhill. Prior to this we lived in Luton, so we are quite familiar with the local area. I felt it was a great opportunity to join the school governing board and be part of the local community.

For the last 15 years I've worked in the financial sector, doing a variety of different roles. Most recently, delivering large scale projects / change initiatives. I am also studying for a Masters in Business Administration, which will finish in 2024.

Being part of the governing board will be a real privilege, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to support Thornhill Primary School and our local community.

Clerk to Governing Board

I am delighted to be working for Thornhill Primary School as their Clerk to the Governors and thoroughly enjoy working as part of the team that delivers effective governance.  I am passionate about education. As a retired
Headteacher, I have 25 years’ experience leading and managing a range of schools within Central Bedfordshire. I now enjoy working for several schools within the county supporting with School Improvement as well as professional governance contributing to the efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and compliance of governing boards. As a professional Clerk, I work in partnership with the Chair to keep the board focused on its core strategic priorities, provide independent and expert advice and guidance to the board on its duties and functions, and deliver administrative support that makes everything work smoothly.