Your Schools Week Team
Our team of journalists are passionate about providing our readers with the latest education news.
John Dickens
Editor
John.dickens@schoolsweek.co.uk
About
John was appointed editor in September 2018 after returning to the company from a year-long sabbatical where he did a spot of travelling (the only rule was he had to shave off the Cast Away-style beard he had grown over the 12 months).
Prior to this he was chief reporter at the newspaper which he joined in 2015. Along the way he’s picked up various awards including Outstanding National Education Journalist of the Year in 2016 and Most Promising Newcomer to Education Journalism in his first year with us.
When not working, John will almost definitely be cycling or watching cricket.
Latest articles from John
Freddie Whittaker
Deputy Editor & Political Editor
About
Freddie has been writing about public policy for most of his career, initially as a senior reporter for the Gloucester Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo, and then as the Oxford Mail’s political and local government reporter.
He joined our sister paper, FE Week, in January 2014, and moved to the Schools Week team in August 2015, becoming the paper’s political reporter in January 2016.
Appointed chief reporter in August 2017, Freddie still covers the politics beat, and can often be found tweeting furiously from windowless press rooms at political party and trade union conferences.
He is also a regular contributor to the New Statesman on education policy and political issues.
Freddie lives in south–east London but retains strong ties with his home town of Stroud, Gloucestershire, where he helps run the annual Stroud Fringe festival.
Latest articles from Freddie
JL Dutaut
Commissioning editor
About
After 15 years in primary and secondary classrooms, JL rediscovered his first love of writing. His blog, book and a regular column about education all promoted a simple idea: More diversity makes better policy. Now, he’s delivering on that idea as our commissioning editor, helping others to find and use their voice from every corner of the education sector.
Latest articles from Jean-Louis
Samantha Booth
Chief reporter
Samantha.Booth@schoolsweek.co.uk
About
Samantha joined Schools Week in February 2020. Her reporting beat includes SEND, mental health and exams.
In 2025, she was awarded Specialist Journalist of the Year the The Press Awards for her reporting on the SEND crisis. She has also been longlisted for The Paul Foot Award 2022 and highly commended at the British Journalism Awards 2023.
Prior to this, she worked at award-winning local newspapers the Camden New Journal and the Croydon Advertiser.
Latest articles from Samantha
Jack Dyson
Senior reporter
About
Jack joined Schools Week as a senior reporter in April 2023, and has a particular focus on the academy sector.
Beforehand he was working for KentOnline, where he spent more than five years.
During his time there he uncovered a £100 million black market blighting Canterbury’s high street, shortcomings in the gambling industry and how rogue Airbnb owners broke Covid restrictions to earn a quick buck.
He was a joint winner of the young journalist of the year prize at the 2019 Regional Press Awards and has been given Kent print and feature journalist of the year awards.
Jack spends most of his spare time watching Arsenal, rugby union, cricket and films.
Latest articles from Jack
Latest articles from Lydia
Ruth Lucas
Reporter
About
Ruth joined Schools Week as a Reporter in June 2025 after working as a Local Democracy Reporter in Berkshire. During this time, she covered the general election, led coverage of Bracknell’s SEND crisis, the delayed rebuild of two local hospitals, and exposed awful social housing conditions.
Her beat includes behaviour and attendance, online safety and AI in schools.
When she’s not working she loves reading and cooking, and spending time with her family’s three dogs.