Class Divide: Recent Episodes
Class Divide
Class Divide is a documentary podcast about educational inequality across the UK. Presented by Class Divide campaign member Curtis James, through this podcast series he is trying to understand why the experience of education and the outcomes for children on the council estate he grew up on are so different to kids in other neighbourhoods in Brighton and Hove. He'll be uncovering the roots of the UK's education segregation and subsequent attainment gap and hearing about the consequences this has for some of the UK's poorest communities.
The series features families impacted the hardest by the huge attainment gap as well as teachers, education experts and historians.
In this podcast episode recorded before major parties released their manifestos, Curtis James and Carlie Goldsmith discuss their newly launched manifesto focused on transforming the education system to better support children from low-income families. With the general election approaching, they express concerns over the lack of national discussion on education policies. They highlight the need for comprehensive policy changes and share five key ideas from their manifesto, including prioritising free school meals in admissions, making school transport free, securing pupil premium funds for their intended purpose, increasing working class representation among teachers, and redesigning the education system as a whole. The episode calls for raising awareness and encouraging discussions on education in the run-up to the election.
Introduction to the Podcast
00:28 Launching a New Manifesto
01:00 The State of Education in National Politics
02:09 Addressing Child Poverty and Inequality
03:50 The VAT Debate on Private Schools
04:11 Teachers' Struggles and Welfare Needs
05:33 Five Ideas in the Manifesto
06:12 The Importance of Consistent Leadership in Education
07:01 Historical Context and Current Challenges
08:30 Polling and Public Concerns on Education
09:32 Breaking the Wealth Barrier in Education
The Manifesto ideas
11:55 Free School Meals Priority Policy
17:25 Transport Policy Changes
26:32 Pupil Premium and School Funding
30:48 Increasing Working-Class Representation in Teaching
38:25 Redesigning the Education System
43:38 Call to Action and Conclusion
Links:
Read our manifesto: https://www.classdivide.co.uk/news/introducing-our-new-manifesto
The Sutton Trust: https://www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion/all-news-opinion/fairer-school-admissions-could-you-be-the-change/
Download social media graphics to share: access here
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We're thrilled to unveil some work set to debut at this year's Brighton Festival. Join us in this special episode as host Curtis James sits down with sound artist Simon James – who just so happens to be his twin brother – to delve into the origins of this new work.
Curtis and Simon discuss the genesis of the project, drawing inspiration from a pivotal moment in their lives at the age of 15. Discover the creative process behind Neolithic Cannibals, which will see Simon working with a group of young sound artists from Whitehawk.
Save the date! The exhibition opens its doors this May. To get all the details, head to www.lighthouse.org.uk/
For updates.....
Follow us @divideclass on X
and @divideclass on Instagram
Follow Lighthouse on X
and Lighthouse on Instagram
And subscribe to the Class Divide Newsletter for updates on our campaign.
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Please donate to keep our campaigning going.
On the day The Children, Families & Schools Committee vote on the free school meal school admission proposals, Curtis and Carlie talk about the things that have led up to this day, and we hear the moment the vote happens, as well as thoughts just afterwards.
Thanks to Simon James for recording the committee meeting and post vote interviews.
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Support the proposed changes here.In this bonus episode we delve into the critical consultation happening within the council that could reshape the landscape of education in Brighton and Hove. The spotlight is on a proposed change in secondary school admissions that would prioritise free school meal children, aiming to bridge the class divide and create a more socially inclusive education system.
Featuring:
Dr Ellen Greaves
Andy Schofield
Dr Carlie Goldsmith
Rachelle Otulakowski - Longhill Head
Fiona Millar
Cllr David McGregor
Cllr Jacob Taylor
Class Divide was written and produced by Curtis James. The executive producer is Eve Streeter. Location recording, Sound design, post production and mixing is by Curtis James, editorial support by Dr Carlie Goldsmith and research by Dr Sara Bragg.
Music in the series was kindly donated by Salvatore Mercatante, Traams, Shida Shahabi, Max de Wardener, Simon James, Clarice Jensen, Polypores, Toydrum, and Shopping, Olivier Alary, Maaja Nuut, Rumm, Neil Hale, Minor Pieces, Rutger Hoedemaekers Thank you to Fat Cat Records, Castles in Space.
If you'd like to support the Class Divide campaign follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the website, classdivide.co.uk
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Welcome to the seventh reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast.
In this episode, Curtis James and Carlie Goldsmith discuss the ideas for the future and the culmination of series 1.
Check out the Class Divide Website for more info about the campaign.
Sign up to the Class Divide newsletter here.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and please share if you like what we are doing.
In the final episode of the series, we delve into a story that exemplifies the emergence of hope from the darkest of places. We visit the Crew Club, a community centre at the heart of the council estate in Brighton where the murder of a young boy nearly three decades ago inspired something extraordinary—a place of hope. We travel to Finland and Doncaster to hear how education can be different and successful. We advocate for individuals to overcome prejudices, acknowledge privilege, and recognise the collective responsibility of towns and cities to nurture and support young people. Join us as we dare to think bigger and braver.
Featuring:
Gwyn ap Harri from the XP Trust
Darren and Lorraine Snow from the Crew Club
Johanna Jarvinen Taubert from Learning Scoop
Dr Carlie Goldsmith
Fiona Millar
Jack Davies
Class Divide was written and produced by Curtis James. The executive producer is Eve Streeter. Location recording by Simon James. Sound design, post production and mixing is by Curtis James, with editorial support by Carlie Goldsmith.
Music in the series was kindly donated by Salvatore Mercatante, Traams, Shida Shahabi, Max de Wardener, Simon James, Clarice Jensen, Polypores, Toydrum, and Shopping, Olivier Alary, Maaja Nuut, Rumm, Neil Hale, Minor Pieces, Rutger Hoedemaekers Thank you to Fat Cat Records, Castles in Space.
The series was funded by Necessity. If you'd like to support the Class Divide campaign follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the website, classdivide.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the sixth reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast.
In this episode Curtis James and Carlie Goldsmith discuss the issues around catchments and school admissions.
Check out the Class Divide Website for more info about the campaign.
Sign up the Class Divide newsletter here.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and please share if you like what we are doing.
In this episode we delve into the deep-rooted issues of inequality within the British education system, focusing on catchments and school admissions in Brighton and Hove. We uncover how these factors perpetuate segregation and limit opportunities for children from less privileged backgrounds. We examine the concept of parental choice and its consequences, shedding light on how some parents exploit the system to benefit their own children which leaves others disadvantaged.
Featuring:
Darren McGarvey
Ellen Greaves
Dave Boyle
Dr Carlie Goldsmith
Byron Vincent
Professor Becky Allen
Fiona Millar
Jack Davies
Lloyd Russel Moyle MP
Class Divide was written and produced by Curtis James. The executive producer is Eve Streeter. Location recording, sound design, post production and mixing is by Simon James, with editorial support by Carlie Goldsmith.
Music in the series was kindly donated by Salvatore Mercatante, Traams, Shida Shahabi, Max de Wardener, Simon James, Clarice Jensen, Polypores, Toydrum, and Shopping, Olivier Alary, Maaja Nuut, Rumm, Neil Hale, Minor Pieces, Rutger Hoedemaekers Thank you to Fat Cat Records, Castles in Space.
The series was funded by Necessity. If you'd like to support the Class Divide campaign follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the website, classdivide.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the fifth reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast.
In this episode Curtis James and Carlie Goldsmith discuss the pervasive theme of a lack of choice in life after school. They explore how limited educational support restricts opportunities and influences individuals' decisions. Drawing from her work at the Crew Club, Carlie speaks about the abundance of talent and potential individuals possess, however, the lack of choice and opportunity remains a significant barrier in fields like policy, politics, medicine, and law.
Primary and secondary school choices play a critical role in shaping individuals' futures, affecting decisions regarding college, further education, and higher education opportunities. Carlie also emphasises the limited options available in alternative paths like apprenticeships.
Throughout the episode, Curtis and Carlie emphasise the need for equal access to opportunities, advocating for a broader range of support in education. They stress the importance of providing support and resources to enable individuals to explore their full potential.
Join them as they shed light on the impact of limited choices after school, challenge preconceived notions, and champion the vast abilities and potential within every individual.
Check out the Class Divide Website for more info about the campaign.
Sign up the Class Divide newsletter here.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and please share if you like what we are doing.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of "Class Divide," we explore the impact of leaving school without qualifications, including low self-esteem and limited job opportunities. We hear from someone who couldn't pursue their chosen career due to generational challenges. We also discuss the issues faced by working-class individuals in pursuing higher education and the systemic issues that make it difficult for them to break out of the cycle of educational disadvantage.
Featuring:
Carlie Goldsmith - https://twitter.com/GoldsmithCN
Asa, and Ryan
Emeritus Professor Peter Squires - Professor of Criminology and Public Policy
Courtney Stephenson - Researcher from a working class background
Grant Phillips - Ex Stanley Deason Student
Diane Reay - https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/reay/
Mary Bousted - National Education Union
Class Divide was written and produced by Curtis James. The executive producer is Eve Streeter. Location recording, sound design, post production and mixing is by Simon James, with editorial support by Carlie Goldsmith.
Music in the series was kindly donated by Salvatore Mercatante, Traams, Shida Shahabi, Max de Wardener, Simon James, Clarice Jensen, Polypores, Toydrum, and Shopping, Olivier Alary, Maaja Nuut, Rumm, Neil Hale, Minor Pieces, Rutger Hoedemaekers Thank you to Fat Cat Records, Castles in Space.
The series was funded by Necessity. If you'd like to support the Class Divide campaign follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the website, classdivide.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, your host Curtis James reflects on his journey from a less than ideal background to making this podcast. As he shares his personal experience, we'll hear from individuals who discovered the transformative power of education later in life, and the incredible opportunities it can bring. We'll also follow up with Carlie and her brothers, as they reveal the paths their lives have taken since their vastly different school experiences.
Episode 5 is out on Wednesday 3rd May 2023.
Welcome to the fourth reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast.
This episode is split into two halves. In the first Curtis is joined by Ryan and they discuss their experiences of Stanley Deason School as well as what it felt like to get a peak behind the curtain of what was happening on the lead up to their school closing. In the second half Carlie speaks about the impact the school closure has had on the community.
Check out the Class Divide Website for more info about the campaign.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and please share if you like what we are doing.
In this episode we're looking at how years of neglect and middle-class flight resulted in the closure of East Brighton's only secondary school also known as "the school that died of poverty".
How is that allowed to happen? And what does it say and do to a community when its school is closed?
Featuring:
Carlie Goldsmith - https://twitter.com/GoldsmithCN
Arron, Asa, and Ryan
Jill Clough - Ex COMART Head
Andy Schofield - Ex Varndean School Head
Mr Hubbard - Ex Stanley Deason/Marina High/COMART head of drama
Diane Reay - https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/reay/
Darren McGarvey - https://twitter.com/lokiscottishrap
Class Divide was written and produced by Curtis James. The executive producer is Eve Streeter. Location recording, sound design, post production and mixing is by Simon James, with editorial support by Carlie Goldsmith.
Music in the series was kindly donated by Salvatore Mercatante, Traams, Shida Shahabi, Max de Wardener, Simon James, Clarice Jensen, Polypores, Toydrum, and Shopping, Olivier Alary, Maaja Nuut, Rumm, Neil Hale, Minor Pieces, Rutger Hoedemaekers Thank you to Fat Cat Records, Castles in Space.
The series was funded by Necessity. If you'd like to support the Class Divide campaign follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the website, classdivide.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join us as we follow the story of the closure of East Brighton's only secondary school and the impact it had on the community. Hear about years of neglect, poverty, and the lack of commitment to working-class education. Don't miss this powerful episode, released on Wednesday 19th April.
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This is a special surprise episode delivered to you from the Lake District.
We're with a group of 12 young people from Whitehawk, spending the week at the Ullswater Outward Bound Centre.
This bonus episode also includes a teaser for Episode 4, which will launch next week.
Welcome to the third reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast. In this episode, Curtis and Carlie discuss their thoughts on the previous week's episode, which explored life in two very different schools.
We react mainly to the challenges her brothers faced in their state school and the consequences for children today.
Check out the Class Divide Website for more info about the campaign.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and please share if you like what we are doing.
In this episode we follow the story of Carlie Goldsmith and her three brothers, Asa, Ryan, and Arron. All four grew up in Whitehawk, one of the council estates of East Brighton on the South Coast of England.
Carlie received an assisted place at a fee-paying independent school for girls, while her brothers attended the local comprehensive in the hills and hollows of Whitehawk. This episode explores the stark reality of educational segregation and the impact it has on the lives of young people.
We delve into the significance of Carlie's assisted placement and how it opened up a world of opportunities that she otherwise wouldn't have had access to. We discuss the challenges her brothers faced in their state school and the consequences of the educational divide that exists within the state school system.
Featuring:
Carlie Goldsmith - https://twitter.com/GoldsmithCN
Arron, Asa, and Ryan
Mr Hubbard
Diane Reay - https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/reay/
Darren McGarvey - https://twitter.com/lokiscottishrap
Class Divide was written and produced by Curtis James. The executive producer is Eve Streeter. Location recording, sound design, post production and mixing is by Simon James, with editorial support by Carlie Goldsmith.
Music in the series was kindly donated by Salvatore Mercatante, Traams, Shida Shahabi, Max de Wardener, Simon James, Clarice Jensen, Polypores, Toydrum, and Shopping, Olivier Alary, Maaja Nuut, Rumm, Neil Hale, Minor Pieces, Rutger Hoedemaekers Thank you to Fat Cat Records, Castles in Space.
The series was funded by Necessity. If you'd like to supprt the Class Divide campaign follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit the website, classdivide.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here's a sneak preview of the upcoming episode, out on the 29th of March.
We'll be exploring what happens when children from the same family, living in the same house end up going to two very different schools.
Find out more about Class Divide here: www.classdivide.co.uk
Welcome to the second reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast. In this episode, Curtis and Carlie discuss their thoughts on the previous week's episode, which explored the negative stigma and perception in the communities of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and Bristol Estate in East Brighton.
Curtis and Carlie share some more personal experiences of stigma they have faced, and discuss the issue raised by Darren McGarvey about 'the imperialist nature' of organisations parachuting in to 'save' communities like Whitehawk.
Research on how people define their class:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0038038520982225
Check out the Class Divide Website.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and please share if you love what we are doing.
In this episode, we will take you on a journey to Whitehawk, one of the most underprivileged communities in the UK, where we will meet the residents who call this place home. We will look into the issues facing this community and explore how the stigma attached to council estates like Whitehawk has contributed to the systemic inequalities that exist in our education system.
Through personal stories and interviews with residents, we will uncover the challenges faced by those living in this community, including high levels of poverty and low educational attainment. We will also explore how the stigmatisation of council estates has perpetuated these issues and made it even harder for individuals to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage.
We will hear firsthand accounts of how places like Whitehawk became stigmatised and ignored, and how this has affected the community's ability to access resources and opportunities. We will also discuss the impact of this stigmatisation on the mental health and wellbeing of those living in the area.
To gain a deeper insight into the impact of council estate stigma perception, we will be speaking with a range of guests:
Two members of the Whitehawk Bygones Society speak about moving to Whitehawk as children and where the negative perceptions of the area might have come from; social historian and author John Boughton, who specializes in the history of council estates; writer, performer, and activist Byron Vincent, who shares his experiences of growing up on a council estate in the north of England; ex-Whitehawk headteacher Jill Clough, who speaks about her experiences moving to the area to run the local secondary school Stanley Deason/COMART/Marina High; and rapper, broadcaster, campaigner, and Orwell Prize-winning author Darren McGarvey, who talks about the flawed approach of always bringing outsiders into a community to "fix things".
To find out more about Class Divide, please visit www.classdivide.co.uk.
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Previously in our series, we left you in suspense, waiting to hear what happened with Carlie Goldsmith as she received a life-changing letter in her bedroom on the Whitehawk council estate. In the upcoming Episode 2, we'll finally reveal the contents of that letter. We'll also take a closer look at Whitehawk in East Brighton, a community that has long struggled with inadequate education support. Join us on Wednesday, March 15th as we explore beyond Carlie's bedroom walls and shed light on stigma and negative perceptions of council estates and how they impact education.
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Welcome to the first reaction episode of the Class Divide podcast. In this episode, Curtis and Carlie discuss their thoughts on the previous week's episode, which explored the challenges faced by the communities of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and Bristol Estate in East Brighton.
Curtis and Carlie delve into the concept of shadow cultures and their impact on the community, as well as the drawbacks of measuring children in school from an early age. They also explore where the good in the community can be found, despite the challenges they face.
One of those good things is the Crew Club - they have been a massive supporter of Class Divide. You can check out their work here, and if you can spare any cash, donate to them here.
Check out the Class Divide Website.
Support this podcast by leaving a rating and review, and share if you love what we are doing.
Have you ever wondered why some children excel academically while others struggle? In this episode, we explore the critical importance of early years education, from birth to junior school, which many experts consider the most critical time for young people's development and learning.
We take a close look at the lives of one family in Whitehawk, a council estate on the outskirts of Brighton, and how their experiences in the formative years could potentially have a profound impact on every aspect of their lives.
To provide a broader understanding of the challenges facing early years education, we are joined by a diverse range of guests.
Rapper, broadcaster, campaigner and Orwell Prize winning author Darren McGarvey talks to me about universal education being created to provide a literate workforce, and that working classes are not given a liberal education, only trained for specific tasks, creating a two-tier education system. He suggests the educational attainment gap reflects this.
Thomas McMorrin, headteacher at City Academy Whitehawk shares his insight about the importance of a language-rich home environment for young children's language development and how schools can support families to bridge the gap.
Professor Diane Reay, Cambridge academic researcher and higher education teacher who grew up on a large council estate and comes from a working-class background discusses the highly segregated education system from nursery onwards, where affluent families access quality education while working-class families have limited options.
Dr Sarah Leaney from the University of Brighton researches lives of people on council estates and the formation of classed identities. She argues that working-class children's experiences should not be seen as lacking, despite facing a lack of resources and that schools often measure ability based on access to educational resources, and teachers are aware of inequalities but lack the resources to address them.
Celia Greenwood is one of the co-founders of the WAC Arts Organisation, which she set up in London while teaching in the 1970s. She emphasises the importance of recognizing and valuing diverse experiences that children bring to school instead of only focusing on what they lack.
Dr Chris Bagley, educational psychologist and former teacher shares his ideas about dividing people into top, middle, and bottom sets in schools and that this idea goes back thousands of years and is deeply ingrained in our society, leading to the internalisation of these ideas by teachers and students. He calls this 'Shadow Culture'.
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union talks about the impact child poverty has on education outcomes with teachers struggle to address these gaps due to lack of resources and funding.
To find out more about Class Divide, head to www.classdivide.co.uk
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Ahead of our launch on the 1st of March, we wanted to share a little bit more of episode 1. It features Darren and Sandy, both schooled in Whitehawk, and more recently parents to their own children. It also features Joint General-Secretary of the National Education Union Mary Bousted, and Diane Reay, a sociologist and academic, who is Professor of Education at the University of Cambridge. She grew up and went to school on a council estate.
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A sneak preview of the upcoming Class Divide podcast series.
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