Class Divide

Three years ago this spring, Episode 1 of the Class Divide podcast launched. The campaign itself is older than that, closer to seven years in, but the podcast was the moment a long-running community effort suddenly reached the rest of the city and beyond. Curtis and Carlie reunite to mark the anniversary, look back at what has shifted since the first episode came out, and talk honestly about what...

When Brighton & Hove City Council met on the 27th February 2025 to vote on school admissions reform, it marked the culmination of a twenty-year fight for change. From the community of Whitehawk — once hidden in the city’s hollows — to the council chamber. In this third and final episode of our three-part second series, we take you inside the decisive vote that could reshape education in Bright...

When Brighton & Hove Council started sharing ideas to make secondary schools more integrated in October 2024, it sparked intense debate across the city. In this second episode of our special series, Class Divide explores how progressive values are tested when change affects our own children's education. From parents wrestling with their fears about change to communities long excluded from real...

When Brighton made history by giving children on free school meals priority access to secondary schools, it became the first city in England to take such a bold step towards educational equality. But was it enough? In this first episode of a special three-part series, Class Divide explores why true integration of our schools matters - not just for our poorest children, but for everyone. From Longh...

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...

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. Disco...

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. Hosted o...

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....

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...

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. Hosted on...

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...

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 indivi...

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 b...

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 ha...

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 COMAR...

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

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...

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...

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...

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 liv...

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 mea...

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 h...

A sneak preview of the upcoming Class Divide podcast series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.