Governing Body

Pam Dossang

Chair of Governors

Co-Opted Governor

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Pam moved to England in 1998 after reading Applied Biochemistry. Her career has been extensively scientifically focused having spent over 20 years in Drug Discovery across pharmaceutical, biotechnology and commercial sectors. Currently leading a multidisciplinary research group, she is responsible for strategy, finance, resourcing and contract design whilst project managing for global clients. Pam’s main extra-curricular passion is Psychology which she studied at degree level. She has two children in KS2 at the school and also sits on the Friends of Witchford Rackham Committee.

Brian Zielinski-Smith

Vice Chair of Governors

Brian has lived in Witchford for the last 7 years, with two children, one of whom is enjoying the education and life at the school, and the other will eventually join her in a few years. He is the Technical Services Director at a start-up in Norwich, developing rockets to provide space access to the global space sector, also volunteering as a STEM ambassador. With a background in engineering, commercial and strategic product development/management, underpinned by a degree in engineering and a passion for science, Brian is well placed to bring some excellent insights and ideas to the governing board, helping guide and develop the school to run as effectively as possible and, providing excellent education to children.

Georgina Turner

Ex Officio Governor Headteacher

Georgina started her teaching career in Peterborough before moving to teach in Essex, East London and the Medway towns in North Kent, where she was Deputy Head. Georgina returned to Cambridgeshire and started working at The Rackham initially teaching in Year 5/6. Georgina then taught in Year 3/4 followed by Key Stage One before progressing to Deputy Headteacher and a member of SLT. Georgina is the current Headteacher at The Rackham. Georgina has taken two career breaks from teaching to work in business. Georgina found this experience invaluable as it gave context to the culture schools are preparing children to work in as adults. The demands of work outside of education highlighted the vital importance of excellent teaching and learning to ensure all children have the best opportunities in their lives once their school career comes to an end.

Ian Clifton

Ian has lived in Witchford for over 10 years. Ian’s career background is Facility Management since University, he currently works in Retail Management having done so for over 10 years at multiple Retail Centres. Ian manages the day-to-day site operations, specifically the on-site Contracts including Hard and Soft Services, Fabric Maintenance and H&S of the site, its retailers, and all contractors.  Ian has a child in Reception and KS2 at The Rackham with a third who has moved onto secondary education. He has been on the Governing Board since 2018. 

Ellie Senior

Safeguarding Governor

Ellie joined the Governing Body at The Rackham as a Parent Governor in October 2021. She has two children currently enjoying education at the school. She lives in Coveney where she is involved in many aspects of the community including as Trustee of the village hall and foodbank volunteer. In a previous career Ellie was a Primary School Teacher and Deputy Head, starting her career in Derbyshire, then Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. During that period she served as Teacher Governor for a number of years across two schools. Now, Ellie is a Freelance Copywriter, providing a wide range of writing services to help businesses and organisations communicate effectively digitally and in print. Ellie says, “I admire the work of The Rackham team in creating a strong community that families and staff feel proud to be part of and that inspires aspiration in our young people. I have seen Rackham meet challenges with a proactive and sensitive approach that keeps children at the heart of decision-making. I want to be part of supporting our school to meet the challenges and triumphs to come.”

Samantha Herselman

Teacher Governor

Samantha started her teaching career twelve years ago, following on from being a Teaching Assistant. During her career she has taught children across all of the primary age ranges both at The Rackham and other Cambridgeshire schools. Samantha has two primary aged children herself and understands the importance of providing a wide range of opportunities to the young people in our community. Since January 2023, Samantha has been the Acting Deputy Head and SENDCo at The Rackham, both roles were made permanent in April of the same year. Samantha holds the nationally recognised SEND Coordination qualification and has a passion for supporting children with Special Educational Needs. She has recently become a member of the Governing Body in order to continue to have a positive impact on the children who attend The Rackham.

Revd Canon Mark Haworth

Ex Officio Governor

Mark was brought up in Sale, Blackburn, and Altrincham, and is an honours-graduate forester from Aberdeen University (1973) where inter alia he was President of the University Forestry Society, played hockey for the university, and sang in the Scottish Episcopalian Cathedral (St Andrew’s) Choir when not walking in the Cairngorms and West Highlands. His subsequent 15 year career as a District Officer in the Forestry Commission took him to Peebles, Kendal, Thetford and Ludlow from where he became a Hereford ordinand in 1988. Mark has a real heart for collaborative parish ministry with a real heart for work with schools; he is a member of the Society of the Resurrection at Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and has experience of leading away-days and pilgrimages to holy places within these islands. He considers that he has embraced a wide breadth of worship, spirituality, prayer-life and music in his lay and ordained ministry, and that his faith journey is Christ-centred, Biblically-grounded and pastorally-driven, undergirded by a facility and desire for good administration, prayer and parties! Mark enjoys walking, cycling, and spending time with family and friends, is a member of both Newmarket Real Tennis Club and Exning Tennis Club, sings with Ely Cathedral Octagon Singers, and annually with the Manchester Cathedral Voluntary Choir. He also particularly enjoys fellwalking and landscape, architecture, concerts, theatre and film; he is also a lifetime supporter of Blackburn Rovers FC (which feeds his love of sacrificial loyalty and sardonic humour).

Emily Chase

LA Governor

Emily moved to Witchford in 2019 and has two children, one that is currently at Rackham Primary. She has worked in the arts and cultural education sector for over 17 years. After beginning her career at Babylon Arts in Ely, Emily has worked as a Learning Officer for internationally renowned galleries and museums at UEA and Cambridge University, supporting schools’ engagement programmes, Teachers INSETs, and cultural events such as international conferences, seminars, and artist development programmes. Her previous roles as Artsmark and Arts Award Programme Manager for the east region, saw her work with Senior Education Leaders and Head Teachers to develop strategic programmes for school arts and cultural engagement. In her current role as Relationship Manager; Children, Young People and Learning, for Arts Council England, she is responsible for the investment and development of arts and cultural activity within the Southeast of England, and particularly focuses on activity that supports children and young people to fulfil their creative potential, access the highest quality cultural experiences where they live, where they go to school and were they spend their free time. She believes passionately in how arts and culture can enrich and bring joy to children’s lives, and she hopes that her experience and skills will bring wider opportunities for the school and help nurture its vision of ’working together to be the best we can possibly be’.

Saskia Higginson

Saskia grew up in Witchford, living here for 18 years, and attended The Rackham Primary School when she was younger. She recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, Saskia’s degree in English has helped to instil a deep love for the subject which she is keen to bring to the governing board and school. She is currently completing a two-year graduate scheme at Cambridgeshire County Council, working in many different placements throughout her time at the authority. Her current placement is within policy and insight, specifically helping to work on the business plan for the year and helping to facilitate budget setting workshops.