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Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Schoolchildren to feature in controversial TV show

CHILDREN at an inner city primary school in Birmingham are to feature in a controversial television series about what it means to be white and working class in Britain today. Read

Queen Elizabeth II

Children back plans for oath of allegiance

PUPILS in Birmingham today gave a cautious welcome to calls for all school leavers to be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. Read

Sunday Night Live, Birmingham Hippodrome

GOOD old fashioned "variety" returned to the stage in Birmingham. Read

Warning to Birmingham schools on 'idle' cash

SCHOOLS in Birmingham have been warned to 'spend it or risk losing it' after a massive increase in the total amount of cash being hoarded by governing bodies. Read

Adderley Primary School in Birmingham.

Birmingham parents want Ofsted at their children's school

PARENTS at a troubled Birmingham primary school have taken the unprecedented step of calling on Government inspectors to declare it as "failing". Read

Clannad, Alexandra Theatre

IT WAS just as if they'd never been away. Read

Education

Schools agony for 1 in 3 families in Birmingham

MORE than a third of Birmingham parents failed to get their child into their first choice secondary school for the coming academic year. Read

Marilyn Williams, who died of cancer.

Colleagues of teacher Marilyn Williams raise cash in her memory

PUPILS and staff at a Birmingham school have raised more than £3,000 in memory of a teacher who lost her courageous fight against cancer. Read

Action call on young mums by Midlands expert

A YOUTH expert in the West Midlands has conceded that there is still an "awful lot to do" to reduce teenage pregnancies in the region. Read

Web error adds to Birmingham school place woes

RED-faced council officials in Birmingham have apologised for a blunder which allowed parents to find out which secondary school their children had been allocated several days early. Read

Birmingham University students reunited in class 50 years on

TWO students at a Birmingham university are enjoying something of a "golden" reunion. Read

Fairport Convention, Birmingham Town Hall

IN an ever changing world, you can rely on one thing - Fairport Convention just keep on touring. Read

Aspects Of Love, Birmingham Hippodrome

DAVID Essex turns back the clock to prove there's still plenty of life in the "old Romeo". Read

Jordan nets a school of fish

HUNDREDS of primary school children enjoyed a 'splashing' good time on a grand day out - thanks to the Birmingham Mail. All 630 pupils at Yardley Primary School, in Harvey Road, Yardley, were treated to a VIP visit to the National Sea Life Centre, in Brindleyplace, following our competition. Read

We've booked a VIP visitor

THE Lady Mayoress of Birmingham took a trip down memory lane to open a new library at her old school. Read

Barbara Dickson, Birmingham Town Hall

SOME things undoubtedly mature and get better with age. And that is clearly the case with the enduring quality of Barbara Dickson. Read

Adrian Chiles and Alan Shearer

Adrian Chiles teams up with Alan Shearer

WEST Bromwich Albion fanatic Adrian Chiles will be returning to the stadium in style next month when he embarks on a gruelling 335 mile cycle ride in aid of Sport Relief 2008. Read

Clive Millward

Jazz veteran Clive Millward dies

A POPULAR Midland musician has died after almost 60 years of performing on stage. Read

Omid Djalili, Alexandra Theatre

IRAN'S most famous comedian has clearly found his passport to success. Read

great barr school

We want the kids to be employable

HEAD teacher Kate Abbott knows a good thing when she sees it! 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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