Welcome to the Governors' section
Governor biographies
Simon Karger
Simon is Global Commercial Director at a medical technology innovation and development firm in Cambridge. With a Batchelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Business, Simon has over 20 years experience in technical and commercial roles, leading global teams, building and executing global market strategies and developing ground breaking innovations for clients across the medical industry. Having lived in both the UK and USA, as well as spending much of his career building businesses in Asia, Simon brings experience working with both the largest medical device companies in the world and some of the most exciting start-ups. Through this, Simon brings a global, commercial and technical mindset to the governing board along with his track record of global team development and management.
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 KS1 and KS2 at Rackham with a third at the Pre School. He has been on the Governing Board since 2018.
Pam Dossang
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 KS1 at the school and also sits on the Friends of Witchford Rackham committee.
Georgina Turner
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.
Ellie Senior
Ellie joined the Governing Body at 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.”
Brian Zielinski-Smith
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.
Lawrence Akinsola
Lawrence moved to Witchford in 2021. He has 3 children and works as an Administrator in a Charitable Organisation in Cambridge. He oversees the running of the day to day activities of the organisation. He decided to join the governing body in order to make excellent contributions towards the holistic growth of the school. He also encourages and inspires young men to become the best version of themselves.
Governors are committed to achieving our shared vision for the school. This means that they regularly visit the school to undertake a range of activities on top of attending a series of meetings throughout the year. Each governor is assigned an area of interest. All members are also encouraged to attend full governing body meetings.
Each member of the governing body is asked to declare any pecuniary interests and are asked to withdraw any section of a meeting where there may be a conflict of interests.
The Chair for the Full Governing Body is Mr S Karger.
Our Safeguarding Governor is Mr S Karger
Governing Body - March 2023
| Name | Category | Appointed by | Term | Role |
| Simon Karger | Parent Governor | Elected by Parents | October 2021 - October 2025 | Chair |
| Ian Clifton | Parent Governor | Elected by Parents | September 2022 - September 2026 | |
| James Richardson | Parent Governor | Elected by Parents | October 2021 - October 2025 | |
|
Pamela Dossang |
Parent Governor | Elected by Parents | October 2021 - October 2025 | |
| Ellie Senior | Parent Governor | Elected by Parents | October 2021 - October 2025 | |
| Georgina Turner | Headteacher | Elected by Staff | October 2021 - October 2025 | |
| Brian Zeilinski-Smith | TBC - New appointment | October 2022 - October 2026 | ||
| Lawrence Akinsola | TBC - New appointment | October 2022 - October 2026 |
Financial Information
There are no employees at Rackham CE Primary School with a gross annual salary of £100,000 or more.
Please see below for a link to the school's financial benchmarking service.
