Dame Helen Hyde studied at Witwatersrand University South Africa, King’s College London, and the Centre for Holocaust Studies at the Institute of Education London.

A career in teaching culminated in becoming Head Teacher of Watford Grammar School for Girls.  She has been an External Advisor to School Governors, an Executive Mentor to a number of Head teachers, and Educational Advisor for the Schools Regional Commissioner.

Helen is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Imperial War Museum.  She is a Trustee of the Holocaust Education Trust and an advisor to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.  She was appointed a Holocaust commissioner and sits on the Educational Advisory Board of the National Holocaust Commission.

Helen is an adviser to the Board of FASNA, Freedom & Autonomy for Schools – National Association, and Patron of the Rwandan Sisterhood working with survivors of the genocide and deprived women in Kigali, and the Sparrow Schools in Johannesburg.

With the Vicar of Watford, she has set up the Refugee to Recovery Forum assisting immigrants in the local community.

In 2012, Helen was made Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to national education and Holocaust education.

Helen Hyde is married to Dr John Hyde and has two daughters, one of whom, now a doctor herself, was educated at Watford Grammar Schools for Girls.