College Strategy Team (CST)

The College Strategy Team is the name for the senior leadership team of the College. Together the five members of the team have responsibility for every aspect of the College, from Teaching and Learning to Finance and Funding and everything in between.

Meet the team

CST work to 52-week per year contracts, which means that, between us, there is always a member of the senior leadership team available or on-call as the site operates all year round. The team meet twice weekly during term time to oversee both operational and strategic aspects of the College’s work.

They also take the lead at the weekly online briefing for staff to provide live or catch-up access to the week’s events and news items. With such a large student body and staff team, all CST members have a team of senior roles that report into them and who support them with delegated authority for leading on specialist areas, such as Admissions, Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the Sports and Tennis Centre, the IT network and the Estate and its buildings.

Jo Trump

Principal

As Principal of Hills Road Sixth Form College, Jo is responsible for leading the College Strategy Team to achieve the objectives set in the College’s Strategic Plan. Jo works with the Chair of Hills Road Corporation – the College’s Governing Body.   

Jo has specialised in the Sixth Form College sector for thirty years, working with and for ten different colleges in that time. She is a passionate advocate for the transforming effect of a brilliant sixth form on students’ choices and life chances and champions an education that is about much more than qualifications.    

Jo has been the Principal of Hills Road Sixth Form College since 2017 and was previously Deputy Principal here from 2009. Originally an English teacher, Jo still loves books, plays and poetry and misses being in the classroom with students. Both her daughters are recent alumnae of Hills Road.

Ian Pryer

Deputy Principal

Ian is responsible for maintaining standards, compliance and quality at Hills Road, overseeing the IT and Information Systems, Examinations and Learning Resources teams. Originally from a retail financial services background before a career change into teaching in 2010, Ian has been at Hills Road since 2014. A former Curriculum Director and Department Head, Ian still teaches A level Business and Economics. Ian’s eldest son is a recent alumnus of Hills Road. Outside work, Ian can be found watching live music or cheering on his beloved Watford FC from the stands.

Saira Hanif

Vice Principal - Finance and Operations

Saira has responsibility for all departments which support the day to day running of the Hills Road campus, including upkeep of the estate, building projects, financial operations, the Sports and Tennis centre and Human Resources. With a degree in Engineering, qualified as a chartered management accountant and a varied background including social housing and British Airways, Saira is well-placed to focus on strong finance and operational management. Saira has a passion for equity, diversity and inclusion, having chaired an EM group in a previous organisation. Saira is kept busy outside of work by her young daughter, who she is hoping will become a Hills Road student in 2035.

Ali Kirkman

Vice Principal – Staff and Student Learning

Ali is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Hills Road curriculum, including quality of teaching and learning, and Study Skills. She is passionate about creating positive and powerful learning communities where everyone, staff and students alike, can reach their potential.

Ali has been at Hills Road since 2021, but as a former Hills Road linguistics student herself, she has insider knowledge when it comes to all things historical about Hills Road. Ali has worked extensively in teaching and leading in English as an Additional Language, including nine years in Malaysia, and can often be found planning holidays that involve sunshine, diving and spicy food.

Tim Lomas

Vice Principal - Student Progression and Support

Tim has responsibility for the pastoral teams which support our students to make the most of their time at Hills Road. This includes the Guidance Team, Careers, Wellbeing and Counselling and the Future Ready tutorial programme as well as overall responsibility for Safeguarding.

Originally a Geography teacher, Tim has held a number of different academic and pastoral roles across schools in London and Valencia, Spain. Outside College, Tim spends time supporting Cambridge United, running, walking and enjoying the local comedy scene.