Meet our Staff

Leadership Team

• Paul Thomas

  Executive Headteacher

  Paul Thomas completed a BSc in Environmental Science with Education for KS2/3 at York St John. He has worked in a number of local authorities including York, Harrow, Ealing, Hackney and for REACH2 Academy Trust. Within these schools Paul has held a number of roles, including working at a collocated special and mainstream school and as Inclusion Lead overseeing a resource provision for pupils with specific speech and language needs. He also has a PGC in Education for Critical Thinking and Coaching & Mentoring and an MA in Special and Inclusive Education. In 2023 he also completed the NPQ in Executive Leadership. As Headteacher at Parkwood Primary in Hackney the school gained national recognition for its pioneering MFL provision, integrating a CLIL approach to ensure pupils transition to secondary education equipped with essential modern-world skills. This also gained the school the accreditation of International Spanish School by the Spanish Embassy. Beyond his school leadership role, he collaborates with Challenge Partners to facilitate school improvement, leadership development, and peer challenge and at a strategic level, Paul also serves as a governor of a school in Waltham Forest. Following his role as Headteacher at Parkwood Primary School in Hackney he also took over the role of Executive Headteacher at the Growth Learning Collective of Rotherfield and Newington Green.

• Mairead McDonnell

  Head of School

  Mairead McDonnell, completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Education in London in 2002 and took up her first teaching post in Islington in 2003. Mairead became Deputy Headteacher at Newington Green Primary School in 2007 and was acting Headteacher from September 2009 until April 2010, when the new Headteacher was appointed. Mairead completed a Masters in Teaching and Learning in 2013. In February 2017, Mairead became the Head of School when Abi took on the role of Executive Head of Newington Green and Rotherfield Primary Schools. In this new role Mairead is responsible for the day to day leadership of Newington Green and ensuring the school continues to improve.

• Helen Bennett

  Deputy Headteacher (Achievement and Includion/SENco), DSL

  Helen Bennett completed her PGCE in Manchester and moved to London in 2005 to start her first teaching post in Islington. She became Assistant Head at Newington Green Primary School in 2008 and took over the role of Inclusion Manager in 2010. She has completed the Postgraduate National Award for SEN Coordination and the Postgraduate Certificate in Ethnic Minority Achievement.

• Nicola Andrews

  Assistant Headteacher (2YO, Nursery, Reception, Y1 and Y2, Early Years SEND), Deputy DSL

  Nicola has an honours degree in Education from Nottingham Trent University. Nicola started working at Newington Green in 2003, having started her career in teaching at Hargrave Park, another Islington school. Nicola has been a class teacher and phase leader before taking on her current role. Nicola has special interest in Early Years education, and has been instrumental in driving improvements in Early Years provision here at school.

• Carmel Old

  Assistant Headteacher (Y1, Y2, Y5, Y6 and English Lead across the school), Deputy DSL

  Carmel has a BA honours degree in Primary Education from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. After moving to London in 2010, Carmel started her teaching career at Gainsborough Primary School in Hackney where she worked as a class teacher, a Phase Leader and English Leader. During this time, Carmel developed her knowledge of teaching literacy skills across the different year groups and used it to write an engaging curriculum for her school. After 5 years she made the move to Newington Green Primary School where she took on her current post as English Leader.

• Musa Campbell

  LKS2 Lead, Maths Leader, and Teacher Training Leader

  Musa has a BA honours degree in Childhood and Education from the open University and a PGCE with distinction from London Metropolitan University. Musa started working at Newington Green in 2014 and qualified as a teacher while working at the school. In 2019, Musa became Leader of Teacher Training and has been instrumental in developing aspiring teachers. During her time at Newington Green, Musa developed her knowledge of teaching Maths across different year groups and in 2022 she was appointed to the role of Maths Leader where she will be leading the mathematical provision throughout the school.

• Sharon Rossi

  Federation Business Manager

  Sharon has over 20 years’ experience of working in Local Government in finance and social care. Sharon has a degree in Business Studies, a Diploma in School Business Management, Diploma in Leadership and Management and a Certificate in IOSH. Sharon has over 10 years’ experience of working in finance within the London Borough of Haringey and more than 6 years’ experience working as a School Business Manager within a multi-academy trust. Sharon leads on all non-teaching functions of the Federation (finance, premises, administration).

Office And Premises Team

• Katie

  Receptionist & Admin Officer

• Haleema

  HR & Admin Officer

• Olivia

  Admissions & Data Officer

• Sol

  Finance & Admin Officer

• Neil

  Premises Assistant

• Joe

  Federation Premises Manager

Teaching Staff

• Aynur

  Class Teacher / 2 Year Old Lead Practioner - Cherry

• Charlene

  Class Teacher / Nursery - Apple

• Hannah

  Class Teacher (TAP) / Reception - Beech

• Agnes

  Class Teacher / Reception - Sycamore

• Cassie

  Class Teacher / Year 1 - Oak

• Maartje

  Class Teacher / Year 1 - Holly (Mat Leave)

• Georgia

  Class Teacher / Year 1 - Holly

• Louiza

  Class Teacher / Year 2 - Maple (Mat Leave) -

• Esme

  Class Teacher / Year 2 - Maple

• Ana

  Class Teacher / Year 2 - Pine

• Saskia

  Class Teacher / Year 3 - Palm

• Tyrella

  Class Teacher / Year 3 - Silver Birch

• Lena

  Class Teacher / Year 4 - Willow

• Patrick

  Class Teacher / Year 4 - Rowan

• Debs

  Class Teacher / Year 5 - Elm

• Flora

  Class Teacher / Year 5 - Mulberry

• James

  Class Teacher / Year 6 - Ash

• Maya

  Class Teacher / Year 6 - Cedar

• Musa

  Class Teacher / Year 6 - Cedar

Support For Teaching Staff

• Jen

  Learning Mentor

• Sandra

  Attendance & Pastoral Support

• Carrie-Ann

  Higher Level Teaching Assistant

• Fiona

  Higher Level Teaching Assistant

• Janine

  Teaching Assistant

• Lisa

  Teaching Assistant

• Marcia

  Teaching Assistant

• Marie

  Teaching Assistant

• Sam

  Teaching Assistant

• Sannah

  Teaching Assistant

• Surjeet

  Teaching Assistant

• Veronique

  Cover Supervisor

• Andrea

  Teaching Assistant (SEND Support)

• Tracey

  Teaching Assistant (SEND Support)

• Shpetime

  Teaching Assistant (SEND Support)

• Mamello

  Teaching Assistant

• Curtis

  Teaching Assistant

• Raquel

  Teaching Assistant

• Asmie

  Teaching Assistant

• Ethan

  Teaching Assistant

• Monique

  Teaching Assistant

• Sarah

  Teaching Assistant

• Syrus

  Teaching Assistant

• Ellie

  Teaching Assistant

Specialists

• Matthew

  Music Specialist

• Janet

  Spanish Specialist

• Alfie

  P.E Specialist

• Michael

  Computing Specialist

Kitchen Team

• Tiago

  Federation Head Chef

• Iggy

  Sous Chef

• Erica

  Kitchen Assistant

• Hamida

  Kitchen Assistant

• Nelcy

  Kitchen Assistant

• Jamie

  Kitchen Assistant

• Valbona

  Kitchen Assistant

Clubs Staff

• Marcia

  After School Club Lead, and Out of Hours DSL

• Tracey

  After School and Breakfast Club Worker

• Lisa

  Breakfast Club Lead

• Surjeet

  After School Club Lead, and Out of Hours DSL