Crossword Genius

Actors taking English class (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

caste

'class' is the definition.
(caste is a kind of class)

'actors taking english' is the wordplay.
'actors' becomes 'cast' (I've seen this before).
'taking' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'cast'+'e'='CASTE'

(Other definitions for caste that I've seen before include "Social station" , "Level in society" , "Social status" , "Hereditary social class among Hindus" , "Hindu social rank" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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