The edpsy team
Dan: founder of edpsy.org.uk and editor
Twitter @edpsydan
I’m an educational psychologist with a drive to highlight the positive impact that EPs work can have at the individual and societal level. Beginning my psychology career at the University of Surrey I developed wide interests in topics such as organisational psychology and cognitive neuroscience. My first dissertation looked at the positive experiences of gay teenagers in mainstream school.
Prior to EP training I worked in a variety of educational settings including a faith primary school, a pupil referral unit and a sixth-form college. I also spent time as an outreach youth worker, working with LGBTQ+ young people as well as children and young people in their local communities. As well as education-based experience I worked as a regional training manager for Sonos for 18 months.
Completing my doctoral studies in 2015, I used a mixed methods approach to understand educational psychologists’ use of evidence in practice. I am a course tutor on the EP doctoral training programme at the University of Bristol, and I’m keen to adopt a critical approach to thinking about social, emotional and mental wellbeing in children and young people.
Currently I am part of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Member Board, and the Climate Environment Action Coordinating Group. I have previously been the communications lead and chair of the BPS Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP).
In my free time I practice yoga, swim, run and play badminton. I’ve played the flute since I was eleven and I enjoy exploring the UK and further afield.
I’m truly passionate about building a strong and cohesive EP community and edpsy.org.uk is the result.
Emily: editor and events
I began my psychology career at Aston University where I chose to focus on aspects of psychology related to the development of children.
I worked in a mainstream secondary school for 2 years in the Special Educational Needs department and spent a year as a psychology assistant in a local authority in one of the home counties where I worked on a number of projects alongside EPs, trainees and other assistants.
I began my educational psychology doctoral studies at the University of Bristol in 2013 and qualified in November 2016. I have worked as a Local Authority EP since then, with an interest in social and emotional needs, therapeutic support and staff wellbeing. I am part of the team who trains and supervises Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) in the county.
In my free time I play hockey for a local club and look after my young son. I enjoy socialising and spending time with friends and family.
James: blogs
I studied English literature as an undergraduate and worked as an editor for the music section of the student newspaper. I’ve always enjoyed writing and communicating ideas with wider audiences. I worked in journalism for a while but quickly became interested in the opportunities psychology could offer as a career path, so signed up for a Masters conversion course in St Andrews.
I studied English literature as an undergraduate and worked as an editor for the music section of the student newspaper.
I’ve always enjoyed writing and communicating ideas with wider audiences. I worked in journalism for a while but quickly became interested in the opportunities psychology could offer as a career path, so signed up for a Masters conversion course in St Andrews.
Following this, I worked as a learning support assistant in several schools in London and Scotland, before starting my doctoral studies in 2019. I trudged through the mess created by Covid-19 to complete a thesis exploring how practitioners use cognitive-behavioural therapy workbooks with young people.
I am currently a local authority EP, enjoying various opportunities including training Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs). I love getting to know the schools and families in my local area. I have been a newly qualified representative on the AEP national executive committee and sat on the board of Educational Psychology in Practice.
Rich: digital
I helped create the edpsy.org.uk site so let me know if you spot anything broken, or that could be improved. My expertise are in content and design, and in particular how to make sure the user and their experience is at the centre of whatever I’m working on.
During the day I work in content strategy and design for government and public health. Previous to this I worked as head of content design for the charity Jisc, and UWE Bristol developing their use of social media and e-communications. I also worked as a consultant for Lancaster University Management School, advising and training North West businesses on brand and web development.
I’m a sucker for a new service or tool so have far more logins than I know what to do with. I spend much of my free time surrounded by EPs, and have more than a passing interest in climbing, running and baking.
