Celebrating Jennie Lee: A Pioneer of Education and Social Change

Have you heard of Jennie Lee?

My first introduction to Jennie Lee’s story was at the Big Pit Museum in Pontypool, Wales. A remarkable figure in British history, Jennie Lee was born just along the road from me into a mining family in Lochgelly, Fife, a small Scottish town deeply shaped by coal mining. Growing up in a working-class community, she was profoundly influenced by local activism and politics. Despite the era’s challenges, Jennie stayed in school until she was 18—a rarity for young women of her background—and received funding from the Carnegie Trust to attend university.

In 1929, at just 24, Jennie became the youngest woman ever elected to the House of Commons, a milestone she reached before she was even eligible to vote. Her political career was groundbreaking; she later served within the Ministry of Aircraft Production during World War II and became the first-ever Minister for the Arts in 1964. Jennie’s most enduring legacy, however, was her role in founding the Open University, which opened doors to higher education for countless people who might never have had the chance otherwise. Representing Cannock as MP for 25 years, she was driven by a belief in accessible education as a catalyst for social change.

Jennie’s story is one of resilience and vision—a miner's daughter from Lochgelly who transformed access to education on a national scale. It’s striking that I was 39 and living in Wales before I first heard her name. Why is this remarkable story not a staple in Scottish schools, especially in Fife?

Although I earn my keep as a firewalk instructor these days, in my heart there will always be a community worker. I see education as a transformative tool for social change. In recent decades, community education funding has faced significant cuts, with an increasing emphasis on “employability.” True societal change, however, requires a broader commitment to accessible education. Jennie Lee’s legacy reminds us that education can be the foundation of social mobility and empowerment.

Her story deserves to be celebrated. We need to teach and honour the stories of women like Jennie Lee—those who defied expectations, broke barriers, and opened doors for future generations. After all, as Jennie proved, it’s only impossible until it’s done.