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Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Top Brum school 'bottom of class'

THE head of one of the country's top schools today branded national GCSE league tables as "absolute nonsense" after their pupils were placed bottom of the class. Read

Speedway track work gets underway

TWENTY years of waiting has finally ended for loyal fans of speedway in Birmingham. Read

'Bus snobs' councillor gets on his bike

WHILE transport chief Coun Martin Mullaney criticises people for not using public transport, he chooses to travel on a scooter. Read

Fears over shake-up of special schools

HEADS of special schools in Birmingham fear the number of children they teach could be slashed by almost half under proposals by the city council. Read

'Victim' pays out £700,000

A BIRMINGHAM woman who falsely accused two Cadbury's workers of rape within months of each other has been ordered to pay them nearly £700,000 in compensation. Read

Blaze couple jump off roof

A YOUNG couple leapt to their safety from a first floor roof as flames ripped through a Birmingham shop below. Read

Head moved after school complaints

THE head of a Birmingham school has been moved from her job following a catalogue of complaints from staff. Read

Drug found on seven-year-old pupil

The pupil at Woodview Primary, in Woodview Drive, Edgbaston, was permanently excluded after apparently being caught offering the illegal substance to someone else. Read

Sick leave teacher took a second job

A BIRMINGHAM school teacher faces being struck off after he began working as a supply teacher while on sick leave with a bad back. Read

Schools get multi-million pound windfall

SCHOOLS in Birmingham and the Black Country are to share in a multi-million pound windfall from the Government to make them fit for the 21st century. Read

The Pogues @ NIA

WHAT a party! The Pogues were joined by fellow Irish party animals, The Saw Doctors, to ensure Christmas at the NIA was given a true St Patrick's Day makeover. Read

High price of illiterate kids

POOR literacy among primary school pupils in Birmingham could cost the public purse up to £66.3 million a year, experts warned today. Read

Sacked head is re-instated

THE headteacher of a Birmingham primary school has returned to work more than two weeks after he was suspended for alleged gross misconduct. Read

It wouldn't be Christmas without The Pogues

FORGET the tinsel and mince pies - Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without The Pogues! Read

Exam rate success is blighted by truancy

PUPILS playing truant or being taken out of the classroom on extended family holidays are threatening to undermine Birmingham's improvement in primary school exams. Read

Soldiers' battle for hearts and minds

MEMBERS of the Staffordshire Regiment are taking part in a "hearts and minds" operation aimed at hastening the departure of British troops from Iraq. Read

Police probe train tragedy after woman dies

TRANSPORT police are investigating the death of a woman killed in a collision with a high speed train at a Midland railway station. Read

Panto horses at the gallop

IT MAY not be Aintree, but large numbers of "horse" lovers still turn out to see Birmingham's answer to one of the country's great sporting events. Read

Call for calm over head's suspension

THE chairman of governors at a city primary school where the head teacher is suspended today appealed for calm over the dispute. Read

Blair - you make a strong case for a new station

THE Prime Minister has given renewed hope for the transformation of New Street Station in the wake of a campaign involving the Birmingham Mail. Read

Author Profile

Tony Collins joined the Birmingham Mail in 1980.After working in a couple of the Mail's district offices, he became Education Correspondent in 1994. Being regarded as something of a Groucho Marx lookalike, it is no surprise that he is also the Mail's 'Mr Comedy', responsible for interviews with many of our top comics.

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