Jam Tomorrow

Class: The old school ties that bind


Listen Later

Britain’s class system is rigid and incomprehensible – and education keeps it that way. Why do so many of us think we’re working class when we’re not? Why do we still believe in making it through hard work, yet hate social climbers?

After the War, we told ourselves we were on the way towards a classless society. Ros Taylor talks to people as diverse as campaigner and educationalist Melissa Benn and class commentator Peter York to find that decades of meddling with education and work only entrenched class power. How do we get out of the class trap?


  • “The top universities say that anyone can get in if you’re good enough… The problem is, you might not realise it unless you’ve been to the right kind of schools.” – Ros Taylor
  • “There’s British plutocracy and British poshocracy… but in Belgravia you will find precious few British achievers.” – Peter York
  • “The freedoms that academies were promised don’t really exist now… the whole thing was a hugely expensive time and energy trap.” – Fiona Millar
  • “Should we stop talking about the Upper Classes at all and be honest about who really holds wealth and power in Britain?” – Ros Taylor


    Follow Jam Tomorrow on Twitter


    Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Jade Bailey. Voiceovers by Imogen Robertson. Original music by Dubstar. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Jam Tomorrow is a Podmasters production.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Jam TomorrowBy Podmasters

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    7 ratings


    More shows like Jam Tomorrow

    View all
    The New Statesman | UK politics and culture by The New Statesman

    The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

    144 Listeners

    Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

    Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

    278 Listeners

    The Two Matts by The New European

    The Two Matts

    72 Listeners

    Oh God, What Now? by Podmasters

    Oh God, What Now?

    210 Listeners

    Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards by Steve Richards

    Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

    54 Listeners

    The Bunker by Podmasters

    The Bunker

    109 Listeners

    Byline Podcast by Adrian Goldberg

    Byline Podcast

    21 Listeners

    This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler by Podmasters

    This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

    154 Listeners

    Origin Story by Podmasters

    Origin Story

    100 Listeners

    The News Agents by Global

    The News Agents

    993 Listeners

    Paper Cuts by Podmasters

    Paper Cuts

    21 Listeners

    Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell by Arthur Snell

    Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell

    35 Listeners

    Why? with Emma Kennedy by Podmasters

    Why? with Emma Kennedy

    8 Listeners

    American Friction by Podmasters

    American Friction

    33 Listeners

    Quiet Riot by Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith, Kenny Campbell

    Quiet Riot

    47 Listeners