More columnists, world news opinion

Sarah Evans: Stop meddling and let teachers get on with it Mar 29 2013

Michael Gove got another hammering recently by 100 academics who all signed a letter criticising his proposals for the new national curriculum.Read

Chris Upton: Namechecks rare for English places in song Mar 29 2013

Why is it that the English fail to embrace their topography in music? Read

Keith Gabriel: Troubled times for the UK legal sector Mar 22 2013

Law. What is it good for? Absolutely lots of things actually.Read

Richard McComb: Ziggy played guitar and the blands played on Mar 22 2013

You've got to be chuffed for David Bowie. But is it right that a 66-year-old man should be at the top of the hit parade in 2013?Read

Neil Elkes: It's all rubbish on Birmingham's council TV Mar 22 2013

It may not have the quality of a Scandinavian cop show, boast the spectacle and excitement of Doctor Who or have the depth of a Stephen Poliakoff drama, but Birmingham City Council’s new internet broadcast service is certainly pulling in the viewers.Read

Jonathan Walker: Whispered talk of a second Birmingham Airport runway Mar 22 2013

Birmingham Airport officially scrapped plans for a second runway in 2007. But the idea has not been ruled out forever. Read

Jon Griffin: Fate of Blakemores would have please the Bard Mar 22 2013

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” Shakespeare once wrote. A little drastic perhaps, but many people have considered that the Bard had a point.Read

Chris Upton: Birmingham's history of failures and triumphs Mar 22 2013

What happens on a regular basis is that I give a talk to some far-flung historical society, and then learn more from them they did from me.Read

Nature Watch: By eating insects you're doing the world a favour Mar 22 2013

In the wake of the so-called horse meat scandal along comes an initiative extolling the virtues of eating insects.Read

Sarah Evans: Moving away from a target-setting culture Mar 22 2013

Last week I wrote about the four pillars of a new educational strategy and funnily enough only three appeared in the published version so I have been worrying all week about a three-pillared edifice.Read

Richard McComb: Tragedies happen - but this one was different Mar 15 2013

No breaking news story has hit me with quite the same impact as the events that unfolded early last Thursday, when schoolgirl Christina Edkins was stabbed to death on a bus in Birmingham.Read

Steven McCabe: The age of the train has returned - but Dr Beeching did us no favours Mar 15 2013

When in 1961 it was announced that Dr Richard Beeching, the technical director for ICI, was to be appointed as the first chairman of the newly-created British Railways Board, there was a widespread fear that massive cuts were likely.Read

Jonathan Walker: An age old issue that hits us all Mar 15 2013

Britain is getting older - and society is "woefully underprepared" to deal with the consequences, the House of Lords is warning.Read

Chris Upton: My memory is left at the Boolean gate Mar 15 2013

Not so long ago there was considerable public concern that prolonged exposure to a mobile phone might be harmful.Read

Sarah Evans: Independent schools must use 'freedom' Mar 15 2013

I went to an excellent head teachers' get together last week - the Society of Heads annual conference for heads from independent schools. Read

Neil Elkes: In a spin over name row Mar 15 2013

Warwickshire's most famous son wrote: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."Read

Nature Watch: Let's build on great work of Big Birdwatch Mar 15 2013

The RBPS’s Big Garden Birdwatch has come and gone for another year – but it doesn’t stop there, there are small steps we can all make throughout the year to help protect our visiting garden wildlife.Read

Richard McComb: A good life ruined by a dinner party take-away Mar 08 2013

If she is still with us, and I hope she is, Mrs Margot Leadbetter, of Surbiton, must be in her 80s.Read

Jonathan Walker: Is Bedroom Tax the new Poll Tax? Mar 08 2013

Just as Margaret Thatcher fought a losing battle to stop the community charge being called the "poll tax" so this Government is losing the battle to stop "bedroom tax" entering the lexicon.Read

Neil Elkes: Who decides if something is good value for money? Mar 08 2013

The phrase 'value for money' is one which keeps cropping up in the public sector lately as councils and other agencies try to prove that they are spending tax payers money wisely.Read

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