Growing up on a council estate in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, Matt left school with no GCSEs, apart from an A* in PE. Never seen as a high achiever, just one of the kids that got lost in the middle, his journey took a dramatic turn after witnessing the loss of his father. That moment became the catalyst for change. From night school to earning a PhD, while cleaning to fund his studies, Matt carved a path into academia, becoming a research scientist focused on aging. Rooted in working-class values, he’s now helping the next generation of students see what’s possible when you back yourself.
In this conversation, we cover:
- Growing up working-class in Chelmsley Wood and being “lost in the middle” at school
- How grief and personal experience shaped his research interests
- Going from no GCSEs to earning a PhD through night school and self-belief
- Navigating academia as a working-class individual
- The challenges of class bias and microaggressions in professional spaces
- Why resilience, community, and risk-taking were key to his journey
- How he now mentors students from similar backgrounds
- His thoughts on systemic change in education and the role of universities in DEI
- Staying grounded and instilling working-class values in his own children
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