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Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Ziana Kotadia and Gordon Brown

Girl puts wind up judges on climate

A BIRMINGHAM schoolgirl has been acclaimed by the Prime Minister as a Climate Change Champion after "shellshocking" judges with her stark vision of the planet's future. Read

omid djalili

I try not to shy away from difficult subjects

LIKE all true comics, Omid Djalili is constantly evolving his material. Read

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse spotted wearing Villa badge

TROUBLED singer Amy Winehouse is used to being identified as the villain of the piece, but could she be a true Villan? Read

Maureen Byrne

'Sick' profits at British Gas

MPs and pensioners' groups in the West Midlands today joined forces to brand a fivefold increase in profits by British Gas as "disgusting, sick and obscene". Read

Car crash teen loses fight for life

A TEENAGE Birmingham motorist has died in hospital despite the efforts of paramedics who resuscitated him at the scene of a crash at an accident blackspot. Read

Emma McBrearty

Putting a smile on their faces

Tony Collins writes about a half-term scheme at aBirmingham City Council-run riding centre. Read

Having fun helps with curriculum

St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, LADYWOOD. Read

Royal seal of approval for college

A COLLEGE in Birmingham has been given the royal seal of approval. Read

Strikers - 'think of the pupils'

TEACHING assistants across Birmingham were today urged not to back a repeat of the council strike action which forced nearly 170 schools to close. Read

'Failed' schools pass test

THE number of Birmingham schools still struggling in special measures has been slashed to three after two shed their "failing" tag. Read

Meadows Primary School, Northfield

We're a little oasis of calm

THE Meadows Primary is a "little calm oasis" where children are able to thrive. Read

Town pioneers new diplomas

A SELECT group of schools and colleges in Solihull was today sharing in a Government windfall of more than £2 million. Read

Hit the high note and break into new choir

WANT to follow in the footsteps of Aled Jones? Then try out for a new boys' choir formed in Birmingham. Read

Joy as Ofsted cloud is lifted

PUPILS, staff and parents at a closure-threatened school were finally rejoicing today after it shed the "failing" tag which hung over it for more than two years. Read

Adam Thompson

Dreams on track at Indoor Disability Athletics

MORE than 300 young disabled athletes from across the West Midlands achieved a magical sporting dream when they took to the track for a major tournament. Read

Alison moyet, Symphony Hall

WHETHER solo or one half of a duet, Alison Moyet remains true star quality. Read

Mark Watson

Mark Watson, Glee Club

NO-ONE does the bumbling comedian better than Mark Watson, it seems. Read

Kings Norton School

We'll fight to save school

THE headteacher, staff and chair of governors of a Birmingham school have united in vowing to fight closure plans, it was revealed today. Read

Lordswood Girls School

Good reason to celebrate 50th

GIRLS' secondary school in Birmingham is looking forward to a new milestone - after just achieving a new-found status. Read

Learning with the X Factor

THE X Factor's Dannii Minogue is just one of a host of celebrities to be caricatured in the hope of highlighting tthe importance of education to teenagers. 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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