Proud To Be Working With
Below is a list of some of the schools and companies that are members of the Tooled Up Community. We are proud to be working in collaboration with all of these organisations providing them with the latest evidence-based resources on all aspects of parenting and CPD for educational professionals.
Dr Kathy Weston
FOUNDER AND HEAD OF RESEARCH
Dr Kathryn Weston is the founder of Tooled Up Education and the Head of Research. She holds a Law degree from Queen’s University in Belfast, a Masters and Doctorate (Social Science) from the University of Cambridge and was an education and policy researcher for over ten years.
She has co-written two books on “Engaging Parents” for Bloomsbury (2018; 2020) and is a sought-after keynote speaker in both schools, conferences and corporate settings.
Fun Facts
Kathy is married, has two teenage boys and a cat called Blenkinsopp. In her spare time, she loves to travel and has co-authored a book about her hometown, called ‘Secret Belfast’.
Why the team enjoy working with Kathy
Kathy is one of the most inspirational, engaging and supportive women I know. Her wealth of knowledge is unfathomable and her commitment to sharing it with as many people as possible is truly inspiring.
Dr Cassie Rhodes
RESEARCHER
Cassie is a researcher at Tooled Up who spends her time digesting available evidence, liaising with experts, and producing resources. After completing her degree and Master’s, she was awarded a PhD in Medieval Literature in 2007 from the University of Manchester.
Before joining Tooled Up, Cassie worked in publishing and education, and is a mum of two children, aged 9 and 11.
Fun Facts
Favourite Tooled Up Resource
Cassie’s favourite resource is the Wellbeing Journal as it brings together a huge amount of research into a fun, usable and beneficial activity for teens.
Why the team enjoy working with Cassie
She’s intelligent, thorough and a fantastic role model to the rest of us with her commitment to exercise and sport!
Rhonda Ziman
RESEARCHER
Rhonda is a new addition to the Tooled Up research team and specialises in school avoidance, neurodiversity and anxiety. She loves researching the latest evidence, studies and surveys to turn them into digestible resources for our website. Rhonda has a BA in Social Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling.
She was previously a counsellor in Brighton, and before that Director of Crime and Justice Research at Ipsos MORI’s Social Research Institute in London.
Fun Facts
Rhonda makes all her own clothes and wears them proudly irrespective of wonky hems and mismatched buttons. She is owned by a large labrador named Albie who takes her for walks through bushes and puddles. She is a qualified reflexologist, so gives the best foot rubs (ask Albie).
Favourite Tooled Up Resource
Her favourite Tooled Up resource is Wednesday Wisdom, and has been known to print it off, pop it in her coat pocket and re-read its wisdom on a lovely country walk.
Why the team enjoy working with Rhonda
Rhonda has brought fresh insight and new areas of specialism to the team, adding to our strengths. We are developing interesting new resources and offerings based on her ideas, that will benefit the whole Tooled Up community.
Roxana Lara Pomplun
RESEARCHER ASSISTANT
Roxana is a researcher at Tooled Up and currently writes her doctoral thesis on children’s mental health and their digital technology use as an NIHR-funded PhD scholar. Her research is positioned in the ARC KSS workstream “Starting Well: Children’s Mental Health”.
Before joining Tooled Up, she gained work experience in several media and tech-based jobs, as well as volunteering at a UN75 workshop and conference on the topic of trust and transparency in the digital landscape.
Fun Facts
Roxana is “the most jet set person I know” according to Cassie.
Favourite Tooled Up Resource
Using painting and other means of creative output in a meditative way herself, Roxana’s favourite resource is our 30 Calming Drawing Ideas.
Why the team enjoy working with Roxana
Roxana brings a great mix of academic, creative and IT technical knowledge to the team. Although she is primarily part of the research team, she also brings an eye for design to the team.
Wayne Chow
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Wayne has over 20 years’ of experience in Operations Management and leadership roles in multiple blue chip organisations. More recently, Wayne co-founded one of the country’s leading digital fundraising platforms for schools and local authorities across the UK.
Qualified in both Management Science (MSc) and with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, he oversees all technical, commercial, and operational aspects of Tooled Up.
Fun Facts
He will take almost anything apart and put it back together to understand how things work.
Why the team enjoy working with Wayne
Wayne is one of the most proactive people I have ever come across. His resilience and undefeatable attitude are nothing short of admirable and his logical mind takes him to the root of any problem to rectify it at source.
Amanda Power
PA TO DIRECTORS
Amanda joined the Tooled Up team in February 2022, having spent a number of years working in various departments at her daughter’s local village school. Prior to this she worked within special needs education in Cape Town, South Africa.
Amanda is a keen cancer survival advocate as well as an avid supporter for families facing the loss of a child/ children. She also helps prospective parents navigate the trials and tribulations of the adoption process in South Africa.
Fun Facts
Amanda is the Branch Secretary for Cats Protection, Luton, Dunstable & District, part of the ‘trap, neuter and release team’ and a foster carer – 64 cats have been successfully rehomed having been rehabilitated or just cared for in Amanda’s home during the past 6 years.
Favourite Tooled Up Resource
The Feelings Thermometer which I find such a useful resource when dealing with my 9 year old daughter and Wednesday Wisdom, my one inspiring weekly read which I actually stop everything for to ponder over!
Why the team enjoy working with Amanda
Amanda will drop everything to help anyone and she is famous for her lists.
Alison Sharma
OPERATIONS
Alison joined Tooled Up in January 2020. Her role is to ensure that the launch process for organisations joining the Tooled Up community is smooth and efficient. Alison works to build and maintain a strong partnership with all of our subscribing organisations and make sure that individual subscribers can find the support they need.
Alison originally read for a BA in Music before qualifying and working in law for 10 years. She remains a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
Fun Facts
Alison’s loves playing and listening to music, travelling and getting out into nature with her family.
Favourite Tooled Up Resource
The CV for Primary Aged Children as it is a great resource to revisit each year with my children to show them what they have accomplished and how they have developed.
Why the team enjoy working with Alison
Alison is super efficient and not just amazing at keeping all the balls in the air but also being on top of them as well.
Shin Savage
FINANCE
Shin runs Finance operations in Tooled Up and has extensive experience in financial management having held roles in multiple organisations ranging from start up organisations to international banking corporations.
Fun Facts
Hates odd socks and will spend all night searching for one that’s missing.
Favourite Tooled Up Resource
Wednesday Wisdom because of its topical content and endorsement of feelings as well as an insight on different perspectives, together with suggestions on support strategies.
Why the team enjoy working with Shin
Shin has a talent for making complicated things seem easy even if you’re a novice.
Friends’ School
Victoria College
Ashlyns School
Haberdashers’ Girls’ Junior School
Yarm Preparatory School
Holme Grange School
Tring School
St Mary’s School Cambridge
St John’s Preparatory and Senior School
Kingswood House School
Davenies School
Berkhamsted Prep
St Mary’s School
The Grammar School at Leeds
Hallfield School
St John’s School
Cransley School
Merton Court Preparatory School
Notting Hill Preparatory School
Willington School
Monksmead School
St Christopher’s School
Woodford Green Preparatory School
Markyate Village School
Notre Dame Prep School
St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls
Belfast High School
Abbot’s Hill School
Pembridge Hall School
The Misbourne
North Bridge House Prep School
Belmont Mill Hill Preparatory School
Roundwood Park School
Chepstow House School
Julius Baer
Maltman’s Green School
King’s House School
Beechwood Park School
Methody Prep Department (Downey House and Fullerton House)
Belfast Royal Academy
Kings Langley School
Berkhamsted Sixth
Downe House School
Hatcham Temple Grove Free School
Haberdashers’ Girls’ Senior School
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School (Prep & Pre-Prep)
Test Account
Holland House School
Heatherton
Westminster Under School
Sarum Hall School
Lochinver House School
Berkhamsted Pre-Prep
Haberdashers’ Boys’ Senior School
Caldicott School
Merchant Taylors’ Prep School
Brighton College Prep Kensington
Edge Grove School
North London Collegiate School
Regent House School
High March School
St Albans High School for Girls Prep
Berkhamsted Girls
Blackheath High School (Seniors)
The Mulberry House School
Blackheath High School (Juniors)
Latymer Prep School
St. Catherine’s British School
St George’s British International School
Channing School
Methodist College
St Paul’s School
Christ’s Hospital
St Anthony’s School for Girls
Berkhamsted Boys
John Colet School
Cóirle McDowell
MARKETING
Cóirle McDowell recently joined Tooled Up Education as part of the Marketing
Department. Originally from Belfast, Cóirle studied Business Administration and French at Queen’s University Belfast before embarking on a career in the media industry in London followed by twelve years working in business in San Diego, California.
Now mum to three children, she is happily back living in Northern Ireland where she
has spent the past couple of years working in Education. Cóirle first saw Dr. Kathy Weston speak at her son’s school a few years ago, she has been an enthusiastic Tooled Up parent ever since that day and is thrilled to now be part of the Tooled Up team.
Fun Facts
Cóirle loves to get out for a run or to grab thirty minutes to read! Cóirle loves travelling, eating out and never misses an opportunity to practise her (now rather rusty) French.
Why the team enjoy working with Cóirle
Coirle gets stuck into any task before her. She is a great team player, always happy to pitch in to get a project over the line. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious.
