Governor Profiles
Please scroll down for information on each of our Governors.
Dushani Parker
Hello, my name is Dushani Parker and I am the Chair of Governors. I work at Norwood Green Infant School as the SENCO and Assistant Headteacher.
In addition, I teach 2 days in a Reception Class. I used to be Head of the Deaf Centre and can sign using BSL. I have worked at Norwood Green Infant School for over 20 years and am very familiar with our community. It is quite likely that I may have taught your child or indeed one or two parents or staff members!
While at the Infants I have developed strong links with the staff at the Juniors and I feel very privileged to serve as governor for your school.
Sadduf Chaudhry
I am absolutely delighted to be a Governor at Norwood Green Junior School! My name is Sadduf Chaudhry, I have previously worked within the school and had the opportunity to experience the tremendous effort and hard work, put in by staff to ensure all pupils get the most out of their academic life. My aim is to support the school in creating opportunities to thrive and get better each day. I am extremely passionate about bringing the local community together to celebrate the vibrant cultures that we all deem significant. I also welcome the opportunity for children of all abilities, faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds to form a strong identity within school. It has been famously stated that: "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Thus I would like to strengthen the relationship between families and the school to ensure we can collaboratively help children achieve the best they can.
Helen Canbakis
My name is Helen Canbakis and I am a staff governor. I came to NGJS straight from university but then came back here to work again thirteen years ago as it’s such a wonderful school. I am married and have two daughters, aged 15 and 21, who have both been through Norwood Green Junior School and loved it! My eldest daughter has just finished studying Classics at Bristol University. I love to read, cook and eat food from different countries.
I am part of the Senior Leadership Team and am responsible for Teaching and Learning, playtimes and lunchtimes, Writing and many other things in the school! Part of my role is to ensure that the teachers continue to learn throughout their careers so that they can provide the best possible education for our children. I do this by running Lesson Study which allows teachers to work with each other to find interesting, new ideas to help children to learn. One of my strengths is behaviour management and I work closely with all teachers to ensure that Norwood Green is a happy and safe environment to learn.
Shumaila Hassan
My Name is Mrs Shumaila Hassan and I am the Co-opted governor of Norwood Green Junior School. My background is a primary school teacher and a SENDCO. I have many years of experience working with children and families in a rich multi-cultural community. I have been very actively involved in supporting teachers and families who had children with SEND and who spoke English as an additional language. Currently I am working as an agent for the DfE and as a freelance Early Years consultant with a childminder agency. I love working with children, families and the educators because I believe that children thrive when their enabling environment is right to support their learning needs. I would like to serve and support the NGJS school community to thrive by providing my expert knowledge and skills in the many years to come.
Harpreet Singh
My name is Harpreet Singh and serve as a Parent Governor at Norwood Green Junior School with a strong desire to give back to the institution that has positively impacted my child, who has special needs. As a seasoned businessman, I bring a wealth of experience working with diverse cultural backgrounds. My primary motivation as a governor is to ensure that every child, particularly those with special needs, receive the support and resources they need to succeed. I aim to advocate for and implement initiatives that provide enhanced support for students with special needs, ensuring they have equal opportunities to thrive academically and socially. Leveraging my business experience, I plan to contribute to the development of effective policies that promote the school's growth. Beyond my professional and governance roles, I enjoy engaging in activities that promote cultural understanding and community building. My educational philosophy centres on inclusivity, equity, and the belief that every child has the potential to excel with the right support and opportunities.
Umber Saweed
My name is Dr Umber Saweed and I have two daughters currently attending Norwood Green Junior School. I am deeply committed to supporting and enhancing our educational community. As a parent governor my goal is to respect the views and wishes of parents, ensuring that our school continues to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for all students. I look forward to working collaboratively with the amazing school staff, fellow governors and parents to contribute positively to our children’s educational journey.
Stephen Hutchinson
My name is Stephen Hutchinson and I am a staff governor here at NGJS. My background is working in Children’s Services in Hounslow for more than twenty years and my main role here at Norwood Green is the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding arrangements.
I am particularly interested in Social Pedagogy approaches and applying the theory of Contextual Safeguarding to a Primary School setting. As a school Governor, I am especially interested in the relationship between school Policy and the lived experience of children and teachers. Parents and children can always find me on the school gate in the morning for a chat.
Alex Juriansz
My name is Alex Juriansz and I am a co-opted governor. I worked as a teacher at Heston Community School for seven years and began as a governor to help facilitate links between NGJS and one of its main feeder schools.
I am also a Qualified Teacher of Deaf children and young people and completed a placement in the NGJS Centre for the Deaf as part of my training. During my three years as governor the school and its staff have left a profound impression on me and I am committed to supporting the school to maintain its high standards.
Now, working for a SEND advisory service in a local council, I am able to bring my experience within schools and local authorities to my governorship of the school. I am glad to make my small contribution to this thriving and positive community.
Jas Pooni
I am a co-opted Governor at Norwood Green Junior School. Having worked at the school for over 9 years, I have first-hand experience of working with staff, children and parents. The staff work hard to ensure that they create a positive learning environment and embed the love of learning in children.
At the start of my career, I worked in the legal sector at the Treasury after completing my law degree. After having my son, I decided to work in schools so that I could spend time with my family and also gain in depth knowledge of the school curriculum.
At present I work in finance and work in our family accountancy practice. Having a finance and school background, I am able to understand and question the school’s finances. I work closely with the headteacher and my governor colleagues to ensure that we support the strategic development of the school and also ensure that the finances are managed well for the benefit of the children.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, going for long walks and cooking. I also love dancing to bhangra music and have enjoyed performing at shows and community events.
