Hillside Local Academy Board

Nazmunnisha Ismail Jennifer Isaacs Dr Simon Thomson

Emmaa Keating Helen Scally (Acting Chair)

Nazmunnisha Ismail- Principal

Nazmunnisha joined Hillside Primary School in September 2021. She trained as a teacher at Leeds Metropolitan University as a mature student with three young children and specialised in maths and education. Prior to joining Hillside Primary School, she worked as a teacher and English Lead in Kirklees for 13 years, then worked at Beaumont Primary School as English lead before taking up post as Vice Principal at Hillside Primary School. Nazmunnisha is committed to helping the school drive forward by building an environment that allows every child to grow and have the school journey they deserve.

Emma Keating - Staff Governor

I am a HLTA at Hillside Primary School and joined originally when the school was Stile Common Juniors in 2006. I moved to Huddersfield in 1998 to study English Studies at the University of Huddersfield and have lived in and around the area ever since. As a parent myself, as well as working at Hillside Primary School, I understand how the school is an important part of the community and how we all need to work together to ensure each of our children achieve their potential.

Jennifer Isaacs - Parent Governor

Originally from the Staffordshire Moorlands, I moved to Huddersfield to study Music at the University of Huddersfield in 2005. I was struck by the huge amount of community music that Huddersfield encompasses and decided to make Newsome our home. I currently work as an Area Manager and Woodwind teacher for Musica Kirklees. Within this role I also manage their Inclusion Projects and I champion accessible music for all. I have organised and performed in many large scale local musical events across Kirklees (including The Newsome Big Sing) and value the role music has to play in our community and schools.

I am passionate about the transformative affect music can have on our lives and aim to provide an opportunity for every young learner to be involved in music and performance during their time in school, regardless of their circumstances.

I have one daughter in school at the moment and I can already see the positive impact her time at Hillside has had on her life, I look forward to supporting the staff and students at Hillside Academy over the next 4 years.

Helen Scally- Trust Appointed Governor (Acting Chair)

I have lived in Huddersfield since birth and attended schools within the Newsome area. I previously worked at Hillside Primary school for 14 years and was a staff governor before moving to becoming a local governor when I left Hillside in 2022 to pursue a new career in accounting. I had various roles over my years at Hillside including being a SEN ETA, SEN Administrator and the Mental Health Lead for South Pennine Academies.

Victoria Garrad - Staff Governor

I am currently a Year 4 teacher at Hillside Primary school. I have been a teacher for 5 years and have worked in schools before, for over 10 years as a teaching assistant, before going on to University to do an Early Years degree and then a PGCE

Dr Simon Thomson-Parent Governor

I am a parent governor at Hillside with one child in year 2, and an older child who was at Hillside and who is now at Newsome Academy. I work as a data scientist and manager at a large information services company. I have a range of experience across strategy, people and project management, and data anaysis. Except for a break of a year and a half, I have been a governor at Hillside (and its predecessor school before academisation) since 2017, and have served as vice chair of governors and as chair of the standards and effectiveness committee.