Birmingham Post

Plan for Seven Elite City Schools

Education chiefs in Birmingham are in talks to create seven city academies in return for millions of pounds of Government cash. The authority has come up with its own unique version of Tony Blair's controversial flagship policy where wealthy private sponsors help set up and manage new schools.

Father Wins Battle Over Son's Death

A Birmingham hospital consultant has won a year-long battle to prove his son died of heatstroke after a medical misdiagnosis. Alex Francis (above) was one of the nation's top Army recruits and had been due to go to Sandhurst with Prince Harry.

Pounds 3.5m Shortfall Threat to Council Services

Worcestershire County Council has threatened to cut services if it cannot tackle a pounds 3.5 million shortfall. The local authority said a paltry grant from the Government has left it facing the prospect of reining in vital services if it cannot find further savings on top of the pounds 6.5 million already identified.

No1 Single for Own-Label Duo

An previously-unknown folk-pop duo from Warwickshire have shot to top spot in the UK singles chart with a song about a JCB digger. Nizlopi (left) - Luke Concannon and John Parker, both aged 27 and from Leamington Spa - reached number one with JCB Song (right) released on their own FDM label.

Pilot Killed in Mid-Air Light Plane Crash

A Coventry man was killed yesterday after a mid-air collision between two light aircraft. The 34-year-old man who died was the pilot and sole occupant of one of the private planes.

We Don't Exist - Blast Mum

A grieving mother has been devastated by the "unhelpful, cold, and impersonal" treatment meted out by the Foreign Office after her daughter died following a terrorist attack. Hannah Lloyd, aged 16, died of her injuries following the bomb blasts at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt in July.

Game, Set and Match to Sir Cliff

Cliff Richard proved a smash hit with fans this weekend at his last charity tennis tournament at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena. A total of 12,000 people turned out to watch the evergreen star and a host of other celebrities do battle on court in the Cliff Richard Tennis Classic.

Council Agreement Brings Tramline Extension One Step Closer

A key agreement to extend the Midland Metro tram network will be reached today. Funding, construction, operation and maintenance details of the pounds 200 million Wednesbury to Brierley Hill extension project have now been formally agreed with Dudley Borough Council.

High Hopes for Return of 23ft Kong

Forlorn and looking slightly more blue than in his heyday, this is King Kong, the 23ft-high sculpture fans are trying to get returned to Birmingham. Kong was a tourist attraction in Manzoni Gardens (left) before leaving Birmingham in 1976.

Quest at End As Tragedy Revealed ; It Was a Long Battle to Discover the Truth About His Son's Death, but Now a Birmingham Consultant Feels He Can Finally Let Go. Richard Mccomb Reports

"Alex would want his last events analysed and any lessons to be learned," said Dr David Francis. The consultant from Sutton Coldfield had fought tirelessly for the past 12 months to uncover the truth behind his son's death, who collapsed and died during a gap year in West Africa.

Cracking Must-Read Formula

Scientists from Warwick and Birmingham claim they have cracked the secret behind the success of all-time best-selling novelist Agatha Christie. They say they are a step closer to working out a mathematical formula that makes a book "unputdownable".

Pounds 157m Jobs Hope for Marginal Groups

A pounds 157 million programme to help the West Midlands' most marginalised groups find work has been launched today. The money, from the European Social Fund and co-financed by the Learning and Skills Council, aims to help about 150,000 people in the region.

New Home for Elderly

A new pounds 5 million old people's home in east Birmingham has been opened by the local MP during a festive party. Liam Byrne (Lab Hodge Hill) officially opened the Waterloo Housing Association sheltered housing scheme for older people in Shard End last Friday.

Made in Midlands Drive

Council chiefs are opting for a "made in the West Midlands" policy for Sandwell's civic cars. They have had two new Castle Bromwich-made Jaguars delivered, to transport the Mayor and his deputy to and from official duties.

Education Matters : Never Mind the Bullock: Sound Reasons for Return to Learning Language Through Phonics ; Plain Speaking From Ex-Teacher Brenda Bullock

The derisive cheers that greeted the Government's statement that from now on children will be taught to read using the synthetic phonics method was quite understandable and, arguably, well deserved. After all, millions of us in the past were taught to read that way and most of us acquired the skill early. Even my old granny, born in the time of Victoria, and with no more than an elementary education, read fluently and wrote a neat hand.

Education Matters : Class War Puts Pressure On Blair to Back Down

Tony Blair faced mounting pressure to back down on plans to create "independent" state schools last night after John Prescott openly criticised them as a return to the 11-plus. The Deputy Prime Minister said he feared poorer children could get left behind in a "first class/second class" system and even doubted the need for serious reform.

Education Matters : Teachers' Unions Support Prescott

Teachers' union leaders said they shared concerns expressed by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott about planned education reforms. Proposals set out in the education White Paper were variously described as "absolute chaos" and a "return to the bad old days".

Education Matters : Gap Year Placement Appeal to Companies

A gap-year industry placement initiative is appealing to businesses in the West Midlands to take part in its scheme, which gives students vital work experience during a one-year contract. The national not-for-profit Year In Industry - YINI - scheme finds paid, degree-relevant work placements for the students, who typically earn between pounds 8,000 and pounds 14,000 for the year, while gaining skills vital to their graduate job prospects.

Education Matters : Head Urges Promoted Ofsted Chief to Tackle 'Unfinished Business

The head teacher of a Birmingham school locked in a two-year battle with Ofsted's outgoing boss last night said he was leaving his post with "unfinished business". Chief inspector of schools David Bell is to quit after being promoted to permanent secretary at the Department for Education and Skills.

Pounds 3m Moore Sculpture Theft Lorry Recovered

Police have found a lorry believed to have been used in the theft of a pounds 3 million Henry Moore sculpture. They also want a mystery caller with potentially useful information to make contact again.