Freddie Whittaker
@fcdwhittaker.bsky.social
School Week’s deputy and political editor. Organiser of Hack Drinks. Education, politics, sad indie, the final frontier
Want to join the team here at @schoolsweek.bsky.social?
We're looking for a brilliant reporter. Details below...
We're looking for a brilliant reporter. Details below...
We are looking for a reporter to join team @schoolsweek.bsky.social - here's the qualities that we need ⤵️
Fit the bill? See how to apply here: www.journoresources.org.uk/job/reporter...
Any questions, please feel free to drop me or @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social a message
Fit the bill? See how to apply here: www.journoresources.org.uk/job/reporter...
Any questions, please feel free to drop me or @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social a message
December 24, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Want to join the team here at @schoolsweek.bsky.social?
We're looking for a brilliant reporter. Details below...
We're looking for a brilliant reporter. Details below...
My dear friend Aimee’s bookshop Burning House Books is the best in Britain (according to Time Out)! A must-visit if you’re ever in Glasgow!
www.timeout.com/uk/news/this...
www.timeout.com/uk/news/this...
December 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
My dear friend Aimee’s bookshop Burning House Books is the best in Britain (according to Time Out)! A must-visit if you’re ever in Glasgow!
www.timeout.com/uk/news/this...
www.timeout.com/uk/news/this...
Presenting edition 414 of Schools Week
🏫 'Nightmare before Xmas' as free schools axed and put in limbo
🔍 We examine how to measure inclusion
💻 And heads describe the rise of the AI complaint
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
🏫 'Nightmare before Xmas' as free schools axed and put in limbo
🔍 We examine how to measure inclusion
💻 And heads describe the rise of the AI complaint
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
December 11, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Presenting edition 414 of Schools Week
🏫 'Nightmare before Xmas' as free schools axed and put in limbo
🔍 We examine how to measure inclusion
💻 And heads describe the rise of the AI complaint
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
🏫 'Nightmare before Xmas' as free schools axed and put in limbo
🔍 We examine how to measure inclusion
💻 And heads describe the rise of the AI complaint
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
I like bsky. I would like it more if it pulled through social card meta like a normal website. But please read our story, even if bsky has made it look terrible
Breaking: Leaders describe 'nightmare before Christmas' as 28 mainstream and 18 special free school projects face the axe, with 58 more specialist settings thrown into limbo after a year-long government review
schoolsweek.co.uk/nightmare-be...
schoolsweek.co.uk/nightmare-be...
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I like bsky. I would like it more if it pulled through social card meta like a normal website. But please read our story, even if bsky has made it look terrible
Honoured to have been appointed as the next editor of Schools Week, starting in January. It's been a privilege to watch our fantastic newspaper grow in reach and influence since its launch in 2014
I'm also delighted our award-winning chief reporter Samantha Booth will be our deputy editor
I'm also delighted our award-winning chief reporter Samantha Booth will be our deputy editor
We're excited to name Freddie Whittaker as our next Editor and Samantha Booth as Deputy Editor from Jan 2026!
Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward.
Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward.
Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
December 10, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Honoured to have been appointed as the next editor of Schools Week, starting in January. It's been a privilege to watch our fantastic newspaper grow in reach and influence since its launch in 2014
I'm also delighted our award-winning chief reporter Samantha Booth will be our deputy editor
I'm also delighted our award-winning chief reporter Samantha Booth will be our deputy editor
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
We're excited to name Freddie Whittaker as our next Editor and Samantha Booth as Deputy Editor from Jan 2026!
Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward.
Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward.
Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
December 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
We're excited to name Freddie Whittaker as our next Editor and Samantha Booth as Deputy Editor from Jan 2026!
Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward.
Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
Their leadership and reporting experience will drive Schools Week forward.
Got story ideas? They’re listening. #EducationJournalism #SchoolsNews
Can’t help but think the venn diagram of people who queue in pubs and people who sit in the outer seat of an otherwise unoccupied duo of train seats is almost a circle
December 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Can’t help but think the venn diagram of people who queue in pubs and people who sit in the outer seat of an otherwise unoccupied duo of train seats is almost a circle
Big story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility.
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
Exclusive: Family income data will replace free school meals eligibility as the trigger for pupil premium and other deprivation funding for schools, the government has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premiu...
schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premiu...
Income to replace FSM as trigger for disadvantage funding
Government 'will design new model' for allocating the pupil premium and other disadvantage cash
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Big story from @lydiach.bsky.social - buried in Treasury documents, the government confirms it intends to allocate disadvantage funding to schools based on income data, not free school meals eligibility.
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
It follows criticism that FSM is a poor proxy for poverty
Presenting edition 413 of Schools Week
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Presenting edition 413 of Schools Week
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
💷 Investigation: The council schools with million-pound deficits
🏫 School spotlight: Internal AP
👂 Fears over last-minute SEND listening exercise
Plus teacher recruitment, free school meals, falling rolls and more
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
So the £6bn SEND budget blackhole predicted by the OBR for 2028-29 is a 'matter for the next spending review', Phillipson has told Parliament
This is due in 2027, and as set out earlier this year, will review budgets set at the latest SR in June for 28-29 and 29-30
Still, cutting it fine...
This is due in 2027, and as set out earlier this year, will review budgets set at the latest SR in June for 28-29 and 29-30
Still, cutting it fine...
The government will set out how it intends to plug an estimated £6 billion shortfall in SEND funding at the next spending review in 2027, the education secretary has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/6bn-send-sho...
schoolsweek.co.uk/6bn-send-sho...
£6bn SEND shortfall a 'matter for 2027 spending review'
But ministers still face questions about where funding for black hole will come from
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
So the £6bn SEND budget blackhole predicted by the OBR for 2028-29 is a 'matter for the next spending review', Phillipson has told Parliament
This is due in 2027, and as set out earlier this year, will review budgets set at the latest SR in June for 28-29 and 29-30
Still, cutting it fine...
This is due in 2027, and as set out earlier this year, will review budgets set at the latest SR in June for 28-29 and 29-30
Still, cutting it fine...
Happy festive drinks season to all who celebrate. Please fan out along the bar
November 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Happy festive drinks season to all who celebrate. Please fan out along the bar
DfE has responded to the OBR, saying it's 'incorrect' to say pressure may be absorbed by schools budget
'We are clear that any deficit will be absorbed within the overall government budget. These projections also do not account for the much-needed SEND reforms'
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-f...
'We are clear that any deficit will be absorbed within the overall government budget. These projections also do not account for the much-needed SEND reforms'
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-f...
Government faces £6bn SEND shortfall once override ends
Spending watchdog warns 'no savings have been identified' to offset pressure on government coffers
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 8:00 PM
DfE has responded to the OBR, saying it's 'incorrect' to say pressure may be absorbed by schools budget
'We are clear that any deficit will be absorbed within the overall government budget. These projections also do not account for the much-needed SEND reforms'
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-f...
'We are clear that any deficit will be absorbed within the overall government budget. These projections also do not account for the much-needed SEND reforms'
schoolsweek.co.uk/government-f...
Finally got to the bottom of a confusing set of budget documents and OBR forecasts
- Once override ends in 2028, govt takes on burden of rising SEND costs
- OBR estimates £6.3bn pressure in year 1
- Govt has set out no plans to meet it, nor on whether existing deficits (to hit £14bn) will be wiped
- Once override ends in 2028, govt takes on burden of rising SEND costs
- OBR estimates £6.3bn pressure in year 1
- Govt has set out no plans to meet it, nor on whether existing deficits (to hit £14bn) will be wiped
Government plans to absorb the spiraling cost of SEND provision within central budgets will leave it facing a £6 billion annual shortfall, with no savings yet identified to meet it, the spending watchdog has warned
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-faces-6bn-send-shortfall-once-override-ends/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-faces-6bn-send-shortfall-once-override-ends/
Government faces £6bn SEND shortfall once override ends
Spending watchdog warns 'no savings have been identified' to offset pressure on government coffers
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Finally got to the bottom of a confusing set of budget documents and OBR forecasts
- Once override ends in 2028, govt takes on burden of rising SEND costs
- OBR estimates £6.3bn pressure in year 1
- Govt has set out no plans to meet it, nor on whether existing deficits (to hit £14bn) will be wiped
- Once override ends in 2028, govt takes on burden of rising SEND costs
- OBR estimates £6.3bn pressure in year 1
- Govt has set out no plans to meet it, nor on whether existing deficits (to hit £14bn) will be wiped
This is bizarre. Lots about changes to how SEND is funded in the OBR document that was published early by mistake, but Reeves doesn't mention it in speech and it appears absent from Treasury's main budget document
November 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
This is bizarre. Lots about changes to how SEND is funded in the OBR document that was published early by mistake, but Reeves doesn't mention it in speech and it appears absent from Treasury's main budget document
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
Basically it looks like the Government is going to take on the whole cost of the SEND system to spare any additional pain for local authorities, but that doesn't mean local authorities are out of the woods yet....
cc @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social @avneem.bsky.social
cc @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social @eleanorrrlouise.bsky.social @avneem.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
Document now deleted by the OBR intern, have reuploaded the PDF here: smallpdf.com/share-docume...
November 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Document now deleted by the OBR intern, have reuploaded the PDF here: smallpdf.com/share-docume...
Breaking: Leaked OBR document states government will fund full cost of SEND provision from within central government departmental spending from 2028 - not clear if this means wiping the existing council deficits
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Breaking: Leaked OBR document states government will fund full cost of SEND provision from within central government departmental spending from 2028 - not clear if this means wiping the existing council deficits
I’m pretty sure they only added the Liz line services to the departure board at Paddington so it doesn’t just show ‘cancelled’ next to every train all the time
November 14, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I’m pretty sure they only added the Liz line services to the departure board at Paddington so it doesn’t just show ‘cancelled’ next to every train all the time
Some very worrying stats here. Serious questions for government and Capita about why it is taking so long to process remedy statements stemming from the McCloud judgment. Can’t imagine the anguish of already-retired teachers and leaders waiting for missing money
Exclusive: Thousands of retired teachers and leaders potentially entitled to better pensions following the landmark McCloud ruling have died before even receiving statements outlining what they could receive
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/thousands-of-retired-teachers-die-before-pensions-row-settled/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/thousands-of-retired-teachers-die-before-pensions-row-settled/
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Some very worrying stats here. Serious questions for government and Capita about why it is taking so long to process remedy statements stemming from the McCloud judgment. Can’t imagine the anguish of already-retired teachers and leaders waiting for missing money
Everything schools need to know about the curriculum review final report, right here...
❗ Curriculum review proposals revealed
New curriculum in 2028: schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curricul...
Proposals round-up: schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-r...
Subject reccs: schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-r...
Q&A with Becky Francis: schoolsweek.co.uk/interview-be...
New curriculum in 2028: schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curricul...
Proposals round-up: schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-r...
Subject reccs: schoolsweek.co.uk/curriculum-r...
Q&A with Becky Francis: schoolsweek.co.uk/interview-be...
New curriculum to be introduced in 2028 as review published
Government commits to scrap the EBacc and make citizenship compulsory in primary schools
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Everything schools need to know about the curriculum review final report, right here...
This is going down like a lead balloon among teaching unions...
Breaking: Teacher pay should rise by 6.5 per cent over the next three years, government has said in its evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-suggests-6-5-teacher-pay-rise-but-over-three-years/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-suggests-6-5-teacher-pay-rise-but-over-three-years/
Teacher pay: DfE suggests 6.5% rise - but over three years
Department publishes its evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This is going down like a lead balloon among teaching unions...
Teachers will use 'deepfake' technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
'Deepfake' teacher avatars to help pupils catch up
Academy trust staff to use AI generator to introduce resources for pupils returning to school
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Teachers will use 'deepfake' technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-trus...
Laura Trott now in conversation with former education secretary Michael Gove. He says she has second best job in history in politics (education secretary is best, he says). First question is about behaviour
October 7, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Laura Trott now in conversation with former education secretary Michael Gove. He says she has second best job in history in politics (education secretary is best, he says). First question is about behaviour
This is incredibly short-sighted. When the Conservative government slashed bursaries following the brief Covid-related boom in recruitment, subjects with the largest reduction in bursaries attracted the fewest trainees the following year
schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-bu...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-bu...
October 7, 2025 at 12:27 PM
This is incredibly short-sighted. When the Conservative government slashed bursaries following the brief Covid-related boom in recruitment, subjects with the largest reduction in bursaries attracted the fewest trainees the following year
schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-bu...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ministers-bu...
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott is about to address Conservative Party conference
Her session begins with a video showing her clashing with education ministers over the schools bill and criticism from Baroness Spielman and Labour MP Siobhan McDonagh
Her session begins with a video showing her clashing with education ministers over the schools bill and criticism from Baroness Spielman and Labour MP Siobhan McDonagh
October 7, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott is about to address Conservative Party conference
Her session begins with a video showing her clashing with education ministers over the schools bill and criticism from Baroness Spielman and Labour MP Siobhan McDonagh
Her session begins with a video showing her clashing with education ministers over the schools bill and criticism from Baroness Spielman and Labour MP Siobhan McDonagh