Governance

The Governing Body exists to provide strong strategic leadership to a school, ensuring accountability for its educational and financial performance. It is made up of members of our community, parents, staff and stakeholders. Effective governors do not need educational expertise but do need to be committed to our amazing school, willing to ask questions, to both challenge and support the headteacher. They also need to be able to devote the time necessary to work as an enthusiastic member of the governing body team, and to attend meetings and get involved in the life of the school.

The Board of Trustees is the accountable body for the performance of all schools within Oak Learning Partnership. Trustees work to:

  • Ensure that the Trust has a firm strategic direction, well-defined aims and objectives, and a strong ethos
  • Ensure that the CEO accounts to them for the educational performance of the schools and their pupils, and for staff performance
  • Scrutinise the financial performance of the Trust, ensuring financial probity and value for money

For full details of our Trustees please visit the Oak Learning Partnership governance page here.

Our governors

Our Chair of Governors is Yusra Arshad, who can be contacted via school at info@bchs.co.uk or in writing c/o Blackburn Central High School, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HJ.

Current governors
Name Appointed by Office Date of Appointment Term of Office Business Interests Financial Interests
Shanaz Hussain Ex officio BCHS Headteacher 01/09/2020 N/A

Sister, daughter & niece are staff at BCHS.

Chair of Governors Audley Junior School Blackburn.

Chair of BWD Secondary Heads SIG Group.

Director/Trustee of IMO.

Network Lead for the Women's Educational Network.

Governor at Ribblesdale Nursery School, Clitheroe.

 N/A
Yusra Arshad Trust Chair 28/10/2024 27/10/2028 Headteacher St Thomas CE Primary School Blackburn N/A
Ghafar Khan Trust Governor 01/10/2024 Autumn 2028 Child attends BCHS N/A
Samir Khan Staff Staff Governor 01/10/2024 Autumn 2028 School Safeguarding Officer

Vice Chair - Masjid E Saliheen, Blackburn

Brother attends BCHS

 N/A
Yvonne Young Ex officio BCHS Associate Member 01/09/2020 N/A N/A N/A
Peter Williams Trust SEND Link Governor 20/09/2020 Autumn 2026 Governor Clitheroe St James Primary School

Governor Accrington St Peter's CE Primary School

Governor Colne Pendle View Primary Special School

 N/A
Abdul Qadoos Parents Vice Chair 30/10/2022 30/10/2026 Parent of child at BCHS N/A
Sabeen Chilwan-Solkar Parents Parent Governor 03/03/2025 02/03/2029 N/A N/A
Mateen Kamaluddin Trust Safeguarding Governor 18/12/2024 17/12/2028 N/A N/A

Governor attendance at meetings

Attendance 2024/25
Name Meetings Attended Total Meetings
Shanaz Hussain 3 3
Derek Elliott 1 1 (resigned Oct 24)
Yusra Ahmed 2 2 (appointed Chair Oct 24)
Ghafar Khan 0 3
Samir Khan 2 3
Yvonne Young 3 3
Peter Williams 2 3
Abdul Qadoos 3 3
Mateen Kamaluddin 2 2
Sabina Chilwan-Solkar 1 2
Francis Nutter 2 2 (resigned)

 

Attendance 2023/24
Name Meetings Attended Total Meetings
Mrs Shanaz Hussain 2 2
Mrs Susan Aldred 2 2
Mr Derek Elliott 2 2
Mr Ghafar Khan 0 2
Mrs Paula Royle 2 2
Mrs Yvonne Young 2 2
Mr Peter Williams 0 2
Mr Abdul Qadoos 2 2
Mrs Francis Nutter 2 2

 

Diversity information

The governors of Blackburn Central High School believe it is important that boards reflect the diversity of the school communities they serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people.

The governors are currently collecting data on the diversity of the board, including data on age, gender and ethnicity. They will use that data to inform their recruitment and training needs and ensure there is a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

Due to our relatively small governing body we do not publish this diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.