If you’d like to sign the petition calling on the UK government to amend the Equality Act 2010 to make social class a protected characteristic, you can do so here:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752554

#class #SocialClass #EqualityAct #ClassMatters #UKPolitics #classwar #ClassCeiling #DefundCulture #WorkingClass

The print copes of Defund Culture: A Radical Proposal arrived today:

https://www.mediastudies.press/defund-culture-a-radical-proposal

The #book is published by mediastudies.press, and is available #openaccess under the CC4r (Collective Conditions for Re-Use commitment), so you don’t need to pay to download and read a copy.

It's also feels particularly timely in light of recent discussions around #class and #representation including the Class Ceiling report that came out the other week:

https://www.riseassociates.co.uk/downloads/ClassCeiling-Digital.pdf

And the #BBC review by Anne Morrison and Chris Banatvala, which highlight how it remains London-centric and skewed towards #middleclass

https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/documents/thematic-review-of-portrayal-and-representation.pdf

#culturewar #classwar #ClassCeiling #DefundCulture
#ArtsAndCulture #WorkingClass
#media #london #universities
#he #academic #academia

The Class Ceiling report warns that, as entrenched inequality and exclusion continue to shape the UK’s cultural output, what it calls a growing ‘class crisis’ poses a unique threat to Greater Manchester:

https://www.riseassociates.co.uk/downloads/ClassCeiling-Digital.pdf

‘Bit by bit, the rungs that helped a galaxy of working class talent climb to the top in years gone by, have been kicked out of the ladder. Bursaries, grants, affordable space, grassroots venues and a commissioning mindset that championed working class talent are all under threat.'

Grim.

#ClassCeiling #DefundCulture #ArtsAndCulture #Class #classwar #GreaterManchester #WorkingClass

Reform grammar schools and ditch the GCSE treadmill – here’s how Labour can fix education in England | Fiona Millar | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/13/grammar-schools-gcse-labour-education-england

#GCSEs
#Exams
#SelectiveEducation
#GrammarSchools
#Labour
#Baccalaureate
#LeavingExam
#PrivateEducation
#ClassCeiling
#11Plus
#SocialSelection
#EveryChildMatters
#Poverty
#AbsentPupils
#GhostChildren
#Tawney

Sunak to force English universities to cap numbers of students on ‘low-value’ degrees | Students | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jul/14/rishi-sunak-force-english-universities-cap-low-value-degrees

#Sunak
#Universities
#Degrees
#LowValueDegrees
#Oxbridge
#Elitist
#WorkingClass
#GraduateJobs
#Disabled
#Disadvantaged
#EthnicMinorities
#ClassCeiling
#Tories
#Labour
#LibDems
#Aspirations
#FoundationCourses
#LimitOnFoundationCourses
#UniversityFunding