19 episodes

Class Divide is a powerful podcast series that exposes educational inequality in the UK. Through two years of documentary work, it sheds light on education in underprivileged areas such as East Brighton estates of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and Bristol Estate. Shockingly, only 37% of young people in East Brighton achieved basic GCSE grades compared to 69% in the rest of the city in 2019.
The series follows the lives of a daughter and three sons from Whitehawk, emphasizing the transformative power of education. Along with families and teachers, education experts such as Professor Diane Reay and writer Fiona Millar will weigh in on the roots of the UK's educational segregation and attainment gap. The series also features guest appearances by renowned figures such as Darren McGarvey.
The series is written and presented by Curtis James. Curtis grew up in East Brighton and went to school in Whitehawk.
Class Divide is a grassroots campaign fighting to draw attention to the deeply injust educational attainment gap for young people from the communities of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and Bristol Estate in Brighton and Hove. The campaign is made up of parents, residents, experts and supporters who have experienced these problems or have expertise in education, and are funded where necessary by donations and independent of any political organisation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Class Divide Class Divide

    • Society & Culture
    • 5.0 • 2 Ratings

Class Divide is a powerful podcast series that exposes educational inequality in the UK. Through two years of documentary work, it sheds light on education in underprivileged areas such as East Brighton estates of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and Bristol Estate. Shockingly, only 37% of young people in East Brighton achieved basic GCSE grades compared to 69% in the rest of the city in 2019.
The series follows the lives of a daughter and three sons from Whitehawk, emphasizing the transformative power of education. Along with families and teachers, education experts such as Professor Diane Reay and writer Fiona Millar will weigh in on the roots of the UK's educational segregation and attainment gap. The series also features guest appearances by renowned figures such as Darren McGarvey.
The series is written and presented by Curtis James. Curtis grew up in East Brighton and went to school in Whitehawk.
Class Divide is a grassroots campaign fighting to draw attention to the deeply injust educational attainment gap for young people from the communities of Whitehawk, Manor Farm and Bristol Estate in Brighton and Hove. The campaign is made up of parents, residents, experts and supporters who have experienced these problems or have expertise in education, and are funded where necessary by donations and independent of any political organisation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 1 - The Early Years

    Episode 1 - The Early Years

    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; Thomas McMorrin, headteacher at City Academy Whitehawk; Professor Diane Reay, Cambridge academic researcher and higher education teacher; Dr Sarah Leaney from the University of Brighton; Celia Greenwood is one of the co-founders of the WAC Arts Organisation; Dr Chris Bagley, educational psychologist and former teacher; Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the 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 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.

    • 41 min
    Episode 2 - The hills and the hollows

    Episode 2 - The hills and the hollows

    In this episode, we're in 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.
    We'll uncover the challenges faced by those living in this community, including high levels of poverty and low educational attainment. We'll 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.
    Featuring:
    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; writer, performer, and activist Byron Vincent; 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".
    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.

    • 33 min
    Episode 3 - Sliding Doors

    Episode 3 - Sliding Doors

    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.

    • 41 min
    Episode 4 - Losing our school

    Episode 4 - Losing our school

    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.

    • 41 min
    Episode 5 - Class Ceilings and Bounded Paths

    Episode 5 - Class Ceilings and Bounded Paths

    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.

    • 41 min
    Episode 6 - Admissions and Catchments

    Episode 6 - Admissions and Catchments

    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.

    • 44 min

Customer Reviews

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