Class Divide

A sneak preview of the upcoming Class Divide podcast series.

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

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.

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

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/10.1177/0038038520982225Check 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 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/GoldsmithCNArron, Asa, and RyanMr HubbardDiane Reay - https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/reay/Darren McGarvey - https://twitter.com/lokiscottishrapClass 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

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.

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.

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/GoldsmithCNArron, Asa, and RyanJill Clough - Ex COMART HeadAndy Schofield - Ex Varndean School HeadMr Hubbard - Ex Stanley Deason/Marina High/COMART head of dramaDiane Reay - https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/reay/Darren McGarvey - https://twitter.com/lokiscottishrapClass 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