Our Councillors (ID 1280)

• Mrs Angela Phillips
  Chair of the Academy Council Category of Councillor: Foundation Term of Office: 01/09/2022- 31/08/2026 Committees served on: Standards and Pupil Experience Committee, Head's Review, Pay & Performa
  Mrs Angela Phillips

  My Name is Angela Phillips and I am the chair of the Academy Councillors. Along with my fellow Councillors, I set the startegic plan for the school, in line with the Bishop's vision, to ensure that all pupils can achieve and flourish in our school.

  I am an experienced leader in Catholic education and look forward to working along side the staff, children and parents of St Mary's.

  If you would like to know about the work of the Academy Council, please do not hesitate to contact me on chair@st-marys-halifax.calderdale.sch.uk

• Mrs J Walker
  Category of Councillor: Headteacher (Ex-officio) Term of Office: Commenced 06.09.2021 Committees served on: Pay & Performance Committee, Standards and Pupil Experience Committee, Admissions Comm
  Mrs J Walker

  Working with children has always been a passion of mine and I was thrilled and honoured to be appointed as Headteacher of St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy in 2021. Since then it has been my privilege to work with the Academy Council to ensure that our school continues to thrive and improve. The children at St Mary's are wonderful and inspire me every day.

• Fr J Hilton
  Category of Councillor: Foundation Term of Office: 1.7.22 - 31.6.26 Committees served on: Standards and Pupil Experience Committee, Discipline / Appeals Committee Position(s) of Responsibility:
  Fr J Hilton

  Fr Joshua Hilton is the Parish Priest of St Mary's Halifax. He was ordained in 2017 and has been in the parish since July 2022.

• Mrs M Naz
  Parent Governor Category of Councillor: Parent Term of Office: 1.9.21 - 31.8.25 Committees served on: Standards and Pupil Experience Committee, Discipline / Appeals Committee Position(s) of Res
  Mrs M Naz

  When my daughter first started school in 2019, I knew I wanted to be a part of her educational life at St Mary’s. I decided to participate in any way I could and so started to attend the PTFA meetings and volunteer with events they held. As soon as the Academy Councillor role became available, I applied, and so here I am now. Knowing I can now be more involved in helping the school achieve its strategies and goals, is something I am looking forward to. I am very keen to help the schools multi-cultural and diverse community achieve all the offerings the school can provide them and also offer the children further opportunities.

  Outside of this role, I work as a Project Manager for an IT firm and when I’m not working, I volunteer as a scout leader, enjoy gardening, reading, trying out new recipes and travelling.

• Mr V Dalton
  Category of Councillor: Foundation Term of Office: 15.10.19 - 14.10.23 Committees served on: Standards and Pupil Experience Committee, Discipline / Appeals Committee Position(s) of Responsibility:
  Mr V Dalton

  I was appointed as a Diocesan Foundation Governor in October 2019. Two of my three children attended St. Marys when we moved to Yorkshire in 2001. The school was a welcoming and spiritual base which equipped them with the skills and confidence to progress and I am delighted now to have the opportunity to contribute to the life of the school.

  
  I have spent most of my working life in education with my last post being Vice Principal at Barnsley College where I managed performance and funding. I look forward to using my skills to benefit the school.

  
  I live in Halifax with my wife Julie. Our three children are now grown up and have launched their own careers. To relax I enjoy reading, going to live events and travelling.

• Mr D Ellis
  Category of Councillor: Foundation Term of office: 01.02.23 - 31.01.27: Committees served on: Standards and Pupils Experience Committee, Admissions Committee, Discipline / Appeals Comm
  Mr D Ellis

  I was appointed as a Diocesan Foundation Governor at the beginning of 2019 and am delighted to be part of the Academy Council. My wife and I have been part of St Mary's parish since we moved to Halifax in 1986 and both my daughters were fortunate to be educated at St Mary's school.

  After 30 years with P&G and Mars, in a variety of positions across Manufacturing, R&D, Marketing and IT, I recently retired and look forward to applying the skills acquired there to the benefit of the school.

• Mrs H Mellor
  Category of Councillor: Foundation Term of Office: 25.09.2021 - 24.09.2025 Committees served on: Standards and Pupil Experience Committee, Admissions Committee, Discipline / Appeals Committee Posi
  Mrs H Mellor

  Knowing that my eldest son, Isaac, was starting school in 2017, I wanted to find a way in which I could participate in the life of St Mary's. To that end I am now a member of the Academy Council, having been appointed as a Foundation Governor from the start of the academic year, 2017/18.

  As the years have passed, my son, Tobias, and my daughter, Leah, have joined St Mary’s and so I am looking forward to a long journey in helping the school continuously grow and improve.

  My working background is in Education as I am a qualified primary teacher and I am also an active member of our Catholic community; I help to run the Children’s Liturgy that takes place during our Sunday Masses and I work with Miss Smith, Mrs Paquim and Father Martin to help the children of both St Mary's school and St Mary’s parish prepare for their Sacraments.

• Mr D Dyson
  Category of Councillor: Staff Term of Office: 14.11.22 to 13.11.26 Committees served on: Standards and Pupil Experience Committee
  Mr D Dyson

  I am a qualified teacher and for the past 25 years, I have worked in various schools, many of them in the Leeds Diocese, as a class teacher, sports coach and most recently an ICT technician at St Mary’s.

  Both my children used to attend St Mary’s and I have a long-standing affiliation to the school as a parent and a member of staff, so I am excited to begin a new role as a staff councillor. I am keen to use my experiences to help support our children and the school to fulfil its potential.

• Mrs K Green
  Clerk to the Academy Council
  Mrs K Green

  I have recently moved back to the area after living in Liverpool for over 20 years. In Liverpool, I was a Governor at my son’s school, St Nicholas Catholic Primary School for over 8 years. Through this role and the experience gained, 3 years ago, I started to work as a Clerk to the Governors in Liverpool and more recently in Calderdale.

  My background is in art, working in museums, galleries and community settings devising and leading on creative learning programmes with young people, school, families and community groups.