Doug O’Brien
@dougobrien.bsky.social
🧭 Director of Insights and Strategy
🏫 CELT School Improvement Team
👨🏫 Deputy Headteacher at Penrice Academy
🔬 Former Head of Science
📚 Curriculum, Assessment and QofE
https://linktr.ee/Doug.OBrien
🏫 CELT School Improvement Team
👨🏫 Deputy Headteacher at Penrice Academy
🔬 Former Head of Science
📚 Curriculum, Assessment and QofE
https://linktr.ee/Doug.OBrien
Great start to the ResearchED National conference from Tom Bennett. A reminder that we should always strive to be evidence informed.
September 6, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Great start to the ResearchED National conference from Tom Bennett. A reminder that we should always strive to be evidence informed.
Truly inspiring.
@chrislubbe.bsky.social
@chrislubbe.bsky.social
July 5, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Truly inspiring.
@chrislubbe.bsky.social
@chrislubbe.bsky.social
Inspiring the South West conference @inspiringsw.bsky.social being kicked off by Hayley Bissenden introducing the incredible Chris Lubbe @chrislubbe.bsky.social
Inspiration on a rainy Saturday
@celtacademies.bsky.social bringing great speakers to the heart of the South West
Inspiration on a rainy Saturday
@celtacademies.bsky.social bringing great speakers to the heart of the South West
July 5, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Inspiring the South West conference @inspiringsw.bsky.social being kicked off by Hayley Bissenden introducing the incredible Chris Lubbe @chrislubbe.bsky.social
Inspiration on a rainy Saturday
@celtacademies.bsky.social bringing great speakers to the heart of the South West
Inspiration on a rainy Saturday
@celtacademies.bsky.social bringing great speakers to the heart of the South West
Congratulations to Cohort #1 of our Deputy Headteacher Development Programme. A fantastic year of collaboration, six inspiring school visits and clear actions to improve education for young people. Awesome work!
@celtacademies.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
@blackdownep.bsky.social
@celtacademies.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
@blackdownep.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Congratulations to Cohort #1 of our Deputy Headteacher Development Programme. A fantastic year of collaboration, six inspiring school visits and clear actions to improve education for young people. Awesome work!
@celtacademies.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
@blackdownep.bsky.social
@celtacademies.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
@blackdownep.bsky.social
What an awesome INSET day! Over 800 staff from our 16 schools came together to hear about our vision for @CeltAcademies.bsky.social and our Learning Chronicles launch.
A real moment in our Trust story.
Awesome team effort!
A real moment in our Trust story.
Awesome team effort!
June 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
What an awesome INSET day! Over 800 staff from our 16 schools came together to hear about our vision for @CeltAcademies.bsky.social and our Learning Chronicles launch.
A real moment in our Trust story.
Awesome team effort!
A real moment in our Trust story.
Awesome team effort!
Super Sunday Booster Done!
Awesome work from Year 11 this evening at their online Booster for Biology Paper 2!
The eye, blood glucose, evolution, genetic inheritance, peat bogs and loads more.
What a fun evening!
Awesome work from Year 11 this evening at their online Booster for Biology Paper 2!
The eye, blood glucose, evolution, genetic inheritance, peat bogs and loads more.
What a fun evening!
June 8, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Super Sunday Booster Done!
Awesome work from Year 11 this evening at their online Booster for Biology Paper 2!
The eye, blood glucose, evolution, genetic inheritance, peat bogs and loads more.
What a fun evening!
Awesome work from Year 11 this evening at their online Booster for Biology Paper 2!
The eye, blood glucose, evolution, genetic inheritance, peat bogs and loads more.
What a fun evening!
Fantastic day speaking and learning at ResearchED Bournemouth.
Great organisation and such a warm welcome, a pleasure.
Proud to represent @celtacademies.bsky.social talking about our Learning Chronicles and solution focused leadership.
#rEDBmth
Great organisation and such a warm welcome, a pleasure.
Proud to represent @celtacademies.bsky.social talking about our Learning Chronicles and solution focused leadership.
#rEDBmth
June 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Fantastic day speaking and learning at ResearchED Bournemouth.
Great organisation and such a warm welcome, a pleasure.
Proud to represent @celtacademies.bsky.social talking about our Learning Chronicles and solution focused leadership.
#rEDBmth
Great organisation and such a warm welcome, a pleasure.
Proud to represent @celtacademies.bsky.social talking about our Learning Chronicles and solution focused leadership.
#rEDBmth
What an awesome day!
Grappling with Learning and Teaching framework ideas. The future of learning in @celtacademies.bsky.social is very exciting.
We are privileged to have such open and humble leaders.
Grappling with Learning and Teaching framework ideas. The future of learning in @celtacademies.bsky.social is very exciting.
We are privileged to have such open and humble leaders.
May 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
What an awesome day!
Grappling with Learning and Teaching framework ideas. The future of learning in @celtacademies.bsky.social is very exciting.
We are privileged to have such open and humble leaders.
Grappling with Learning and Teaching framework ideas. The future of learning in @celtacademies.bsky.social is very exciting.
We are privileged to have such open and humble leaders.
One of my favourite activities of the year…timetable blocking.
A rainy day so 100% blocked, now to optimise and schedule.
My gamification of the process definitely helps. Progress bars and split class scores.
A rainy day so 100% blocked, now to optimise and schedule.
My gamification of the process definitely helps. Progress bars and split class scores.
April 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM
One of my favourite activities of the year…timetable blocking.
A rainy day so 100% blocked, now to optimise and schedule.
My gamification of the process definitely helps. Progress bars and split class scores.
A rainy day so 100% blocked, now to optimise and schedule.
My gamification of the process definitely helps. Progress bars and split class scores.
Improving attendance is one of top priorities @celtacademies.bsky.social
Sign up to the We’re in Beta Pastoral Champions week to hear all about our seven key strategies to remove barriers.
Link to sign up: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
A sneak peak! ⬇️
Strategy 1 of 7 - Routines
Sign up to the We’re in Beta Pastoral Champions week to hear all about our seven key strategies to remove barriers.
Link to sign up: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
A sneak peak! ⬇️
Strategy 1 of 7 - Routines
March 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Improving attendance is one of top priorities @celtacademies.bsky.social
Sign up to the We’re in Beta Pastoral Champions week to hear all about our seven key strategies to remove barriers.
Link to sign up: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
A sneak peak! ⬇️
Strategy 1 of 7 - Routines
Sign up to the We’re in Beta Pastoral Champions week to hear all about our seven key strategies to remove barriers.
Link to sign up: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
A sneak peak! ⬇️
Strategy 1 of 7 - Routines
Have you signed up to the We’re in Beta Pastoral Champions week? We’ve put together a session from Penrice Academy @celtacademies.bsky.social to share our approaches to ‘Closing the Attendance Gap’.
The video is edited! 🎥
Sign up here: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
The video is edited! 🎥
Sign up here: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
March 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Have you signed up to the We’re in Beta Pastoral Champions week? We’ve put together a session from Penrice Academy @celtacademies.bsky.social to share our approaches to ‘Closing the Attendance Gap’.
The video is edited! 🎥
Sign up here: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
The video is edited! 🎥
Sign up here: www.weareinbeta.community/share/go9Ico...
Today we launched Edition 1 of CELT Connected - a leadership bulletin with thinking, research and news for all our senior leaders.
@celtacademies.bsky.social
Check it out here:
www.canva.com/design/DAGhz...
@celtacademies.bsky.social
Check it out here:
www.canva.com/design/DAGhz...
March 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Today we launched Edition 1 of CELT Connected - a leadership bulletin with thinking, research and news for all our senior leaders.
@celtacademies.bsky.social
Check it out here:
www.canva.com/design/DAGhz...
@celtacademies.bsky.social
Check it out here:
www.canva.com/design/DAGhz...
Why might we not see impact in schools when leaders work tirelessly to improve them? Are they in a Doom Loop?
Spot poor practice, leap to conclusions, launch a new initiative without build up and see poor results - then repeat.
Leaders must build momentum towards clear goals.
Spot poor practice, leap to conclusions, launch a new initiative without build up and see poor results - then repeat.
Leaders must build momentum towards clear goals.
March 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Why might we not see impact in schools when leaders work tirelessly to improve them? Are they in a Doom Loop?
Spot poor practice, leap to conclusions, launch a new initiative without build up and see poor results - then repeat.
Leaders must build momentum towards clear goals.
Spot poor practice, leap to conclusions, launch a new initiative without build up and see poor results - then repeat.
Leaders must build momentum towards clear goals.
Do we do enough for students starting secondary school, who had less than 90% attendance in Year 6?
Only 18% of them achieve Grade 5 in English and Maths compared to 43%.
Embedded attitudes towards engagement, knowledge gaps, underlying barriers… a whole host of factors.
Only 18% of them achieve Grade 5 in English and Maths compared to 43%.
Embedded attitudes towards engagement, knowledge gaps, underlying barriers… a whole host of factors.
March 15, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Do we do enough for students starting secondary school, who had less than 90% attendance in Year 6?
Only 18% of them achieve Grade 5 in English and Maths compared to 43%.
Embedded attitudes towards engagement, knowledge gaps, underlying barriers… a whole host of factors.
Only 18% of them achieve Grade 5 in English and Maths compared to 43%.
Embedded attitudes towards engagement, knowledge gaps, underlying barriers… a whole host of factors.
Fascinating report about the link between attendance and attainment.
Improving attendance from the 90-95% to the 95-100% bracket has the biggest impact on improving odds of achieving Grade 5 in English and Maths, with an odds ratio of x1.9.
An extra 1 - 20 days in school.
Improving attendance from the 90-95% to the 95-100% bracket has the biggest impact on improving odds of achieving Grade 5 in English and Maths, with an odds ratio of x1.9.
An extra 1 - 20 days in school.
March 15, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Fascinating report about the link between attendance and attainment.
Improving attendance from the 90-95% to the 95-100% bracket has the biggest impact on improving odds of achieving Grade 5 in English and Maths, with an odds ratio of x1.9.
An extra 1 - 20 days in school.
Improving attendance from the 90-95% to the 95-100% bracket has the biggest impact on improving odds of achieving Grade 5 in English and Maths, with an odds ratio of x1.9.
An extra 1 - 20 days in school.
We have to be bold as a sector to do more about this.
Students from the most deprived IDACI decile (28%) are half as likely to get a Grade 5 in English and Maths than those in the least deprived decile (60%).
This is not ok.
Students from the most deprived IDACI decile (28%) are half as likely to get a Grade 5 in English and Maths than those in the least deprived decile (60%).
This is not ok.
March 15, 2025 at 7:06 AM
We have to be bold as a sector to do more about this.
Students from the most deprived IDACI decile (28%) are half as likely to get a Grade 5 in English and Maths than those in the least deprived decile (60%).
This is not ok.
Students from the most deprived IDACI decile (28%) are half as likely to get a Grade 5 in English and Maths than those in the least deprived decile (60%).
This is not ok.
Huge thanks to The Castle School @blackdownep.bsky.social for hosting our DHT programme today.
A deep look into consistent whole school pedagogy and subject specificity.
@celtacademies.bsky.social and @westcountryst.bsky.social collaboration!
Delegates learned loads.
A deep look into consistent whole school pedagogy and subject specificity.
@celtacademies.bsky.social and @westcountryst.bsky.social collaboration!
Delegates learned loads.
March 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Huge thanks to The Castle School @blackdownep.bsky.social for hosting our DHT programme today.
A deep look into consistent whole school pedagogy and subject specificity.
@celtacademies.bsky.social and @westcountryst.bsky.social collaboration!
Delegates learned loads.
A deep look into consistent whole school pedagogy and subject specificity.
@celtacademies.bsky.social and @westcountryst.bsky.social collaboration!
Delegates learned loads.
Excited for some deep conversations with our DHT development partnership delegates tomorrow about leading pedagogy.
Should we change our T&L framework approach based on school context? How do you create a common framework but give space for subject specificity?
Should we change our T&L framework approach based on school context? How do you create a common framework but give space for subject specificity?
March 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Excited for some deep conversations with our DHT development partnership delegates tomorrow about leading pedagogy.
Should we change our T&L framework approach based on school context? How do you create a common framework but give space for subject specificity?
Should we change our T&L framework approach based on school context? How do you create a common framework but give space for subject specificity?
This is a pretty awesome feeling!
I could not be more proud of Team Penrice and our community. The report reads like it’s our vision for the school.
Our students, families and staff are incredible!
Read our report and parent letter: tinyurl.com/mk3m2z24
I could not be more proud of Team Penrice and our community. The report reads like it’s our vision for the school.
Our students, families and staff are incredible!
Read our report and parent letter: tinyurl.com/mk3m2z24
March 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
This is a pretty awesome feeling!
I could not be more proud of Team Penrice and our community. The report reads like it’s our vision for the school.
Our students, families and staff are incredible!
Read our report and parent letter: tinyurl.com/mk3m2z24
I could not be more proud of Team Penrice and our community. The report reads like it’s our vision for the school.
Our students, families and staff are incredible!
Read our report and parent letter: tinyurl.com/mk3m2z24
Very excited with the schedule for the delegates on our Deputy Headteacher Development Programme. Conference Day 4 sees us spend the day at the amazing Castle School.
Working together!
@celtacademies.bsky.social @blackdownep.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
Working together!
@celtacademies.bsky.social @blackdownep.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
March 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Very excited with the schedule for the delegates on our Deputy Headteacher Development Programme. Conference Day 4 sees us spend the day at the amazing Castle School.
Working together!
@celtacademies.bsky.social @blackdownep.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
Working together!
@celtacademies.bsky.social @blackdownep.bsky.social @westcountryst.bsky.social
What do you do after you’ve ‘done’ Curriculum? Assessment!
Great to share some ideas about the future of assessment at @celtacademies.bsky.social at the Inspire South West conference.
Precision curriculum to meticulous assessment.
BTW- Curriculum is never ‘done’ but it can be not done!
Great to share some ideas about the future of assessment at @celtacademies.bsky.social at the Inspire South West conference.
Precision curriculum to meticulous assessment.
BTW- Curriculum is never ‘done’ but it can be not done!
March 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
What do you do after you’ve ‘done’ Curriculum? Assessment!
Great to share some ideas about the future of assessment at @celtacademies.bsky.social at the Inspire South West conference.
Precision curriculum to meticulous assessment.
BTW- Curriculum is never ‘done’ but it can be not done!
Great to share some ideas about the future of assessment at @celtacademies.bsky.social at the Inspire South West conference.
Precision curriculum to meticulous assessment.
BTW- Curriculum is never ‘done’ but it can be not done!
What if we could redefine assessment? Using a precision planned curriculum to meticulously assess across a trust and inform learning.
Join me and @lucygambier.bsky.social for our workshop at the Inspiring the Southwest conference next week.
Keynote from the brilliant @jonhutchinson.bsky.social!
Join me and @lucygambier.bsky.social for our workshop at the Inspiring the Southwest conference next week.
Keynote from the brilliant @jonhutchinson.bsky.social!
February 23, 2025 at 5:55 PM
What if we could redefine assessment? Using a precision planned curriculum to meticulously assess across a trust and inform learning.
Join me and @lucygambier.bsky.social for our workshop at the Inspiring the Southwest conference next week.
Keynote from the brilliant @jonhutchinson.bsky.social!
Join me and @lucygambier.bsky.social for our workshop at the Inspiring the Southwest conference next week.
Keynote from the brilliant @jonhutchinson.bsky.social!
What a beautiful afternoon in Cornwall
February 22, 2025 at 3:39 PM
What a beautiful afternoon in Cornwall
Half term walks are the best.
February 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Half term walks are the best.
Fascinating article about international persistent absence from TES.
In Scotland 40.6% of students were persistently absent. In Wales it was 37.1%; in Northern Ireland, 32.1%; and in England, 23.9%.
Purposeful learning and amazing opportunities. Make students want to be in!
In Scotland 40.6% of students were persistently absent. In Wales it was 37.1%; in Northern Ireland, 32.1%; and in England, 23.9%.
Purposeful learning and amazing opportunities. Make students want to be in!
February 20, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Fascinating article about international persistent absence from TES.
In Scotland 40.6% of students were persistently absent. In Wales it was 37.1%; in Northern Ireland, 32.1%; and in England, 23.9%.
Purposeful learning and amazing opportunities. Make students want to be in!
In Scotland 40.6% of students were persistently absent. In Wales it was 37.1%; in Northern Ireland, 32.1%; and in England, 23.9%.
Purposeful learning and amazing opportunities. Make students want to be in!