Freddie Whittaker
@fcdwhittaker.bsky.social
Editor of national education newspaper Schools Week
www.schoolsweek.co.uk
www.schoolsweek.co.uk
If anyone has ever overheard me yelling ‘please fan out along the bar’ in a pub, this is why
The bar staff don’t want you to line up. Other customers don’t want you to line up. Why would you want to line up?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
The bar staff don’t want you to line up. Other customers don’t want you to line up. Why would you want to line up?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘It’s ridiculous’: publicans bemused by rise of single-file queues to get served
Bar owners say they struggle to dissuade people from forming a line as behavioural experts point to post-pandemic ‘new norms’
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:14 PM
If anyone has ever overheard me yelling ‘please fan out along the bar’ in a pub, this is why
The bar staff don’t want you to line up. Other customers don’t want you to line up. Why would you want to line up?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
The bar staff don’t want you to line up. Other customers don’t want you to line up. Why would you want to line up?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Here's edition 418 of Schools Week
🔍 Over 1,000 schools missed from DfE improvement drive
💽 Dodgy DfE data shortens schools' weeks
🧱 The wall between teachers and higher pay
❓ Decision time for councils on free schools' future
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
🔍 Over 1,000 schools missed from DfE improvement drive
💽 Dodgy DfE data shortens schools' weeks
🧱 The wall between teachers and higher pay
❓ Decision time for councils on free schools' future
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Here's edition 418 of Schools Week
🔍 Over 1,000 schools missed from DfE improvement drive
💽 Dodgy DfE data shortens schools' weeks
🧱 The wall between teachers and higher pay
❓ Decision time for councils on free schools' future
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
🔍 Over 1,000 schools missed from DfE improvement drive
💽 Dodgy DfE data shortens schools' weeks
🧱 The wall between teachers and higher pay
❓ Decision time for councils on free schools' future
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
Breaking: Ofsted will check every school’s policy on mobile phones during inspections and ministers will issue 'tougher guidance for schools' on restricting the devices, the government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
Ofsted to check phone policies and 'tougher' guidance coming
Government will also consult on a potential social media ban for children
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Breaking: Ofsted will check every school’s policy on mobile phones during inspections and ministers will issue 'tougher guidance for schools' on restricting the devices, the government has announced
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-to-ch...
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
🗣️ Schools will be 'at the heart' of ministers’ special educational needs reforms, the government’s strategic SEND adviser has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-t...
Schools ‘at the heart of SEND reforms’, says adviser
Dame Christine Lenehen says reforms look at 'changing nature' between schools and local authorities
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 3:15 PM
🗣️ Schools will be 'at the heart' of ministers’ special educational needs reforms, the government’s strategic SEND adviser has said
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-t...
schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-at-t...
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
Exclusive: A 'turnaround' trust once criticised for controversial behaviour policies has revealed plans to boost its academies’ 'emotional intelligence'
Suspensions fall as trust embraces ‘emotional intelligence’
Influential turnaround MAT criticised for high suspensions bidding to cut exclusions and 'keep kids in school'
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Exclusive: A 'turnaround' trust once criticised for controversial behaviour policies has revealed plans to boost its academies’ 'emotional intelligence'
Reposted by Freddie Whittaker
🔢 Exclusive: The government wants school management information systems (MIS) providers to help it 'harness the potential' of the real-time data they collect to inform policy decisions
DfE wants to scrape real-time MIS data from schools
Department calls for tech companies to take part in trials to feed it data to inform policy
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 5:11 PM
🔢 Exclusive: The government wants school management information systems (MIS) providers to help it 'harness the potential' of the real-time data they collect to inform policy decisions
Good to have confirmation from the minister that the white paper will bring extra funding for schools and councils
As @ruthlucas.bsky.social has found, a decision to temporarily freeze high needs funding risks worsening council deficits
schoolsweek.co.uk/extra-send-c...
As @ruthlucas.bsky.social has found, a decision to temporarily freeze high needs funding risks worsening council deficits
schoolsweek.co.uk/extra-send-c...
Extra SEND cash coming says DfE as councils' woes deepen
Minister says white paper will bring 'additional’ funding as town halls warn freeze will worsen deficits
schoolsweek.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Good to have confirmation from the minister that the white paper will bring extra funding for schools and councils
As @ruthlucas.bsky.social has found, a decision to temporarily freeze high needs funding risks worsening council deficits
schoolsweek.co.uk/extra-send-c...
As @ruthlucas.bsky.social has found, a decision to temporarily freeze high needs funding risks worsening council deficits
schoolsweek.co.uk/extra-send-c...
Here's edition 416 of @schoolsweek.bsky.social
We lead on government reassurances the white paper will bring funding for schools and councils, as town halls warn a recent high needs budget freeze will worsen their deficits
Subscribe here: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
We lead on government reassurances the white paper will bring funding for schools and councils, as town halls warn a recent high needs budget freeze will worsen their deficits
Subscribe here: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
January 15, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Here's edition 416 of @schoolsweek.bsky.social
We lead on government reassurances the white paper will bring funding for schools and councils, as town halls warn a recent high needs budget freeze will worsen their deficits
Subscribe here: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
We lead on government reassurances the white paper will bring funding for schools and councils, as town halls warn a recent high needs budget freeze will worsen their deficits
Subscribe here: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
Presenting edition 415 of Schools Week, my first as editor
We lead with impending MAT inspections & greater intervention powers for DfE
Plus a deep-dive into internal exclusion, long-read on falling rolls and a profile of a former academies minister
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
We lead with impending MAT inspections & greater intervention powers for DfE
Plus a deep-dive into internal exclusion, long-read on falling rolls and a profile of a former academies minister
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
January 8, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Presenting edition 415 of Schools Week, my first as editor
We lead with impending MAT inspections & greater intervention powers for DfE
Plus a deep-dive into internal exclusion, long-read on falling rolls and a profile of a former academies minister
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
We lead with impending MAT inspections & greater intervention powers for DfE
Plus a deep-dive into internal exclusion, long-read on falling rolls and a profile of a former academies minister
Subscribe: schoolsweek.co.uk/subscribe-to...
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...