Governing Board

Our Governing Board consists of the Headteacher and 8 governors. We currently have 2 vacancies.

Deborah Pargeter

Chair of Governors

 I have worked in education for over 30 years, as a Teacher,
Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and Associate Her Majesty ‘s Inspector (HMI)
working for Ofsted. I retired from Headship in 2021 and have a small consultancy
business working as a School Improvement Advisor.In my free time I volunteer for organisations including working as a Trustee for the Great Brickhill Charity Trust, Home Cook for Unity MK, Member of The Crofty Multi-
academy Trust (Cornwall) and as a ‘listener’ for The Samaritans.I have been the Chair of Governors in an interim capacity at a number of
schools as they have transitioned through from weak or no governance to
establishing a functioning board.My strengths are in leading improvements in the academic, social and emotional outcomes for children and she has a strong knowledge of educational systems, the National Curriculum and the Ofsted Framework. I have led and/or advised to several local schools in the Houghton Regis area and have a good working knowledge of procedures at the local authority and at a national level.
Luke Davis
My name is Luke and I am proud to have been born and raised in Luton where it has given me an opportunity to learn about many different communities. I grew up in Sundon Park and went to Lealands High School. After realising that I have a strong passion for swimming I decided in 2016 to take the plunge and work for the UAE’s leading swimming academy. Upon returning to the UK, I continued my teaching journey and became a secondary school teacher. working as a teacher also gave me the understanding how a school operates and some of the challenges that they face.
During lockdown in 2020, this allowed me time to reflect, and I rediscovered my passion for swimming. Swift Swimmers was founded, on a mission to empower the next generation of swimming with a life skill in a friendly, fun and safe environment. With a combined love for education and swimming in 2023, Swift Training Academy Ltd was founded on a mission to make vocational training accessible to all. We now have 910 swimmers across our programme weekly and we have over 30 staff members.
I believe that all young people should be given access to a high quality education and if this can be achieved, all young people have the same opportunities to succeed. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be a governor at such a wonderful school and look forward to continuing my journey as a governor.
Rajneet Parmar

Headteacher

 I have worked at Houghton Regis Primary School for 8 years, previously as the Deputy Headteacher and now as Headteacher. I have been teaching for approximately 18 years in various schools across Hertfordshire, Luton and Central Bedfordshire in both teaching and leadership roles. I feel passionate about ensuring all children are provided with the correct skills to achieve their full potential in order to help them become well-rounded citizens for the future. As educators, we have the privilege of shaping each child’s future and I am deeply honoured to be part of this exciting journey. This shared ethos is a key driver of our Governing Board meetings and the governors are also committed to ensuring the well-being of our children and staff is at the forefront.

In addition, I am a Lead Mentor for the Chiltern Training Group, where I provide support to mentors and their trainees as they undertake their teacher training.

Following on my previous years in a role as an Associate Governor, I am looking forward to joining the Governing Board as a Headteacher to shape the direction of the school.
Lyndsay Boland I have been a primary school class teacher since 2012 and have taught at Houghton Regis Primary School since November 2020. During this time, I have gained valuable experience working with children across Key Stage 2 and I am currently the Art subject leader. I have experience mentoring teachers new to the profession, and this is a role that I will be continuing during the next academic year. I have an undergraduate degree in History of Art from the University of Warwick and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Hertfordshire. This experience has helped shape my passion for creativity, subject knowledge and ambitious learning opportunities for all children. As a class teacher, I encourage children to be ambitious and to understand the purpose of making excellent progress in their learning. I currently live in Houghton Regis with my family, and my three children have attended a local primary school. This is my first experience as a school governor, and I am looking forward to supporting Mrs Parmar and the governing board in this important role.
Amy Knights-Allen I have worked in Finance for a number of years and when my eldest daughter was born I spent 6 years working in childcare.

I have 3 daughters at the school and this is my first experience as a school governor. I am pleased to be able to work with and for Houghton Regis Primary School.
Lesley Phillips

I have had 34 years of experience in Education. I started at Ashton Middle School, in Dunstable as a newly qualified teacher and rose through all levels of management with a final role as the first female Head teacher at the wonderful school that Ashton was.

I understand the difficulties of change and trying to give the best to our young people whilst having to manage budgets that are never enough to meet expectations. I am also aware and appreciate the challenges that teaching brings to staff, leaders and indeed the Governing Body. If I can offer that support from the other side of the table, this is something I would very much like to be involved in.

After the closure of all the Middle School’s in this area and always with a passion for working with vulnerable children and their families, I became involved in Safeguarding and worked for a few years at Milton Keynes Academy, helped with some training at the Milton Keynes Safeguarding Board and my final role in education was at Oak Bank SEMH School in Leighton Buzzard.

For the last 7 years I have been working alongside my husband as a Finance and Purchasing Manager (and general dogs body) for his business at Envisage Systems Ltd. Envisage Systems leads in the integration of industrial vision systems for companies in the UK and worldwide. The company has an innovative approach to providing solutions for difficult problems posed by customers. Many of our solutions have not been thought of before.

As a teacher my two main subjects were both French and PE which echo my interests in life. I love to travel and have spent a lifetime with an involvement in sport. I had a particular interest in Netball, Basketball and Volleyball and played for both county and eastern region. I continue to attend classes in Pilates and Barre and fully believe, support and value the benefits of healthy body healthy mind.

I am also a trained listener for the Samaritans which is a role I probably value more than any other.

I love to sew, cook, read and spend time with my family. I have two wonderful daughters (both involved in Education, one as a Safeguarding Lead and the other working in the SEND department with a particular interest and skill in working with neurodivergent students) and an amazing football crazy grandson.

I look forward to being part of a team that works together to support the leadership team to strive to provide the best education and working experience possible for the pupils and staff of Houghton Regis primary School.

 

 

Houghton Regis Primary School