Deputy Editor and Political Editor at Schools Week, Freddie Whittaker is the UK’s foremost journalist on education policy implementation. His reporting dissects the intersection of political decision-making and classroom realities, with particular emphasis on:
Whittaker maintains an open inbox for whistleblowers and data-led stories at freddie.whittaker@schoolsweek.co.uk. His 2023 investigation into SEND funding was commended at the British Journalism Awards for its innovative methodology combining FOI requests with parental testimony.
Whittaker’s career began in local journalism, where he honed his skills in political reporting at the Gloucester Citizen and Oxford Mail. His early coverage of council budgets and municipal decision-making laid the groundwork for his transition to national education journalism in 2014. At FE Week and later Schools Week, he developed a reputation for dissecting complex funding mechanisms and holding policymakers accountable.
This 2024 analysis exposed the disconnect between political rhetoric about school infrastructure and actual funding allocations. Whittaker cross-referenced Department for Education capital expenditure data with local authority maintenance backlogs, revealing how 73% of schools requiring urgent repairs would receive no additional support. The piece became a reference point for education unions lobbying for increased infrastructure investment.
In this 2025 examination of Ofsted’s reform efforts, Whittaker juxtaposed parental satisfaction surveys with headteacher concerns about inspection frameworks. Through interviews with 12 school leaders, he highlighted the tension between public perception and professional realities, influencing subsequent parliamentary questions about inspection practices.
Published in the New Statesman, this 2023 op-ed critiqued the government’s apprenticeship levy system. Whittaker demonstrated how the policy diverted resources from broader adult education programs, citing a 41% decline in community learning center enrollments since the levy’s introduction. The article sparked debate in further education circles about balancing workforce development with lifelong learning opportunities.
Whittaker prioritizes ground-level impacts of education reforms rather than theoretical debates. Successful pitches should include:
“The real story isn’t in Whitehall press releases—it’s in how a maths department allocates its dwindling textbook budget.”
While covering teacher strikes extensively, he seeks underreported consequences like:
Infrastructure pitches should pair technical data with personal narratives:
Whittaker’s investigation into SEND funding shortfalls was highly commended for its methodological rigor, combining FOI requests with family testimony. The judging panel noted its “unflinching yet compassionate” exposure of systemic failures in supporting vulnerable students.
His year-long series on mental health support in academies earned recognition for campaign journalism, directly influencing three multi-academy trusts to revise their counseling policies. The work exemplified his ability to translate statistical trends into actionable insights.
Reeves mentioned crumbling school rooves, but they won’t get more capital cash next year
Chief inspector to point to YouGov polling of parents as leaders continue to urge him to think again
In theory, apprenticeships are great news. But they pose great danger to adult education in England
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Education, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
