Our Governors

The IQRA Governing Body is made up of members representing various walks of life and come from differing backgrounds. The thing we all have in common is a passion that our children should have an outstanding education.

Jamaal R. Boayke

Chair of Governors and chair of Trust, appointed to the governing body by the Trust

Jamaal R. Boayke is a foundation Governor and has been in post since the school became state funded in 2009. He has no relevant business interests but is interested in education, improving lives, helping people achieve their full potential and science. He does not govern any other educational establishments and does not have any relatives connected to the school. He takes a particular interest in Child Protection, Looked After Children and, in terms of curriculum,  English.

Sameer Koomson

Vice chair of Governors, appointed by the Trust

Sameer Koomson is a foundation Governor and has been in the post since the school became state funded in 2009. He has no relevant or pecuniary business interests. He also does not govern any other educational establishments nor have any relatives connected to the school. He takes a particular interest in data attainment and progress.

Zafar Razaq

Chair of resources committee / Foundation Governor, appointed by the Trust

Zafar Razaq was appointed to the governing body while Iqra was at Gresham Road. He is a foundation Governor and has been in post since the school became state funded, in 2009. He is very passionate about education and helping children to achieve their potential, and until recently, worked for a Children’s Charity.  He is also a keen volunteer and loves working with children and young people at a supplementary school he runs on a Monday evening in Canary Wharf. ‘Becoming a governor is a great learning experience for me, and one which helps me to feel close to the school, and community and allows me to give something back.’ He has no other family members or connections relating to the school. He takes a particular interest in HR, Inclusion and, in terms of curriculum, maths.

Awo Salah – Local Authority Governor and SEND lead Governor

With over 15 years of experience in education, Awo has held various leadership roles within secondary schools, including Director of Faculty and Assistant Head. However, her recent transition into the role of SENCo at a local secondary school has ignited a deep passion for supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities. Drawing from her extensive experience in secondary schools, Awo is eager to immerse herself in the world of primary education. She believes that these formative years play a crucial role in shaping a child’s educational journey and is committed to ensuring that every child receives the support and resources they need to thrive.

As a parent herself, Awo understands the importance of a supportive and inclusive school community. She is dedicated to working collaboratively with parents, the Governing Body and school staff to uphold the highest standards of education and create a nurturing environment where every child feels valued and empowered. Awo is excited about the opportunity to serve as a governor and to contribute to the continued success of IQRA. She looks forward to getting to know each of you and working together to make a positive difference in the lives of our students.

Tanvir Choudhury

Tanvir is a Foundation member appointed to the Governing Body. He has a particular focus on relationships and sex education.

Nyla Ghazi

Staff Governor

Nyla has extensive educational experience in primary and secondary schools both in mainstream and independent school settings and has undertaken a range of roles including curriculum development during her career. Nyla joined Iqra Primary School in 2014 as a teacher and is now working as the SENDCo of the school. She became a staff Governor in 2018 and represents the views of staff to the governing body.

Zainab Olaniyan

Parent Governor

I believe that the first years of a child’s education are crucial to their later academic achievements and – just as importantly – to the development of social and other life skills. Obviously, teachers and teaching assistants are at the frontline of this work, but the Governing Body works in the background, to support staff as they implement (ever changing!) government policy in circumstances where stretching resources is often a challenge. To some extent, the Governing Body also holds the school leadership team ‘to account’ as they make strategic decisions about the future direction of the school. This means it must have a good working knowledge of the school, understanding both its strengths and where there may be room for improvement.

As a parent governor, I am part of the Governing Body mix, along with teachers, other staff and community representatives. While the Governing Body can act only as a unit, I believe that parent governors have a special role, and should always try to assess issues and decisions from the point of view of parents/carers and families. This is not the same as representing individual parent’s points of view – it is about making sure that parent/carer perspectives (however diverse) are always considered. Zainab has a particular focus on Early Years education and is our Governors’ training link.

Zainib Ali

Foundation Governor