Profile
Dan O'Hare
My CV
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Education:
Primary school – St Saviour’s Primary School, Lewisham
Secondary school – St Thomas The Apostle College, Nunhead
Sixth Form – Christ the King, Lewisham
University – University of Surrey and University of Bristol -
Qualifications:
11 GCSEs, 2 AS Levels, 3 A Levels, a BSc. Degree and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology
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Work History:
My first jobs were actually in sales and technology. On Saturdays and Sundays I used to help people decide which printer would be best for them. Straight after university I worked as a training manager for a technology company.
I also worked as a classroom assistant and a youth worker for several years. During my undergraduate degree I worked in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) for one year. A PRU is a school for children who have been excluded from their original school – it was fantastic experience in getting to know children and young people who felt like they had been ‘kicked out’ of their school.
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Current Job:
I’m currently doing quite a few things!
I’m an educational psychologists working with a range of schools; primary, secondary, and specialist. I also work at a university, helping to train other people to become educational psychologists.
One of my passions is communicating what we do and so I set up edpsy.org.uk – basically an online magazine for educational psychologists. As of January, I’ve also become Chair-elect of one of the professional groups for educational psychologists (the DECP).
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About Me:
I’m an Educational Psychologist working with children, families, teachers and schools in the South West of England. I also teach at the University of Bristol, training other people to become educational psychologists.
When I’m not working I love to do Yoga and play badminton!
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My Typical Day:
Every day is different! Some of the things that I do most days are visit schools to talk and work with adults and children. I explore how children learn and what their views and strengths are. I also help teachers to work out how best to support children who might find school tricky and I write reports.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Passionate, creative, curious
What did you want to be after you left school?
After I left school, I wanted to be a psychologist!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Erm, not really! I remember getting a detention for playing noughts and crosses during a history lesson! I waited for 25 minutes outside the teacher's classroom, but he had forgotten he'd given me a detention!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Janelle Monáe is one of my favourite artists. I saw her in concert last year, right at the front...I lost my voice!
What's your favourite food?
I love Japanese food.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
My wishes would probably be for other people...!
Tell us a joke.
Erm...How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: One, but the lightbulb has to want to change (awful I know!)
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