:00:00. > 3:59:59Friday to discuss joining the US air strikes against Islamic State in
:00:00. > :00:16.The headlines tonight: Iraq.
:00:17. > :00:18.A former Head of Ofsted's been named as a special
:00:19. > :00:20.commissioner to tackle problems in Birmingham schools, following
:00:21. > :00:27.We speak exclusively to the Secretary of State for Educ`tion.
:00:28. > :00:31.A bitter fall out between neighbours leaves a couple
:00:32. > :00:39.Surely what I do with it is my business.
:00:40. > :00:44.Scientists open a pioneering new laboratory `
:00:45. > :00:48.to find out exactly what happens to our brains when we go to sldep.
:00:49. > :00:52.Black Sabbath guitarist Tonx Iommi shares some musical magic whth
:00:53. > :00:56.And one step closer to the weekend, prospects are improving all the
:00:57. > :01:15.BBC Midlands Today can excltsively reveal that Sir Mike Tomlinson has
:01:16. > :01:17.been named as the Education Commissioner for Birmingham.
:01:18. > :01:20.The Government has appointed him to oversee the city's schools
:01:21. > :01:27.in the wake of the Trojan Horse controversy.
:01:28. > :01:29.Sir Mike helped turn around failing schools in H`ckney
:01:30. > :01:33.in London and he's widely rdgarded as a safe pair of hands.
:01:34. > :01:37.His job now is to address criticisms faced by Birmingham City Cotncil
:01:38. > :01:42.for its delayed response to the Trojan Horse allegations.
:01:43. > :01:45.The authority's said to havd ducked claims of efforts to introdtce an
:01:46. > :01:48.Islamic ethos into several schools ` for fear of being branded r`cist.
:01:49. > :01:55.It started with a letter, purportedly a step by step guide
:01:56. > :02:01.on how to kick out headteachers and introduce an Islamic ethos
:02:02. > :02:07.The letter was sent to Birmingham City Council anonymously
:02:08. > :02:13.The former counter terrorisl police officer Peter Clarke found dvidence
:02:14. > :02:16.to back the claims and accused the council of being more worried
:02:17. > :02:23.In the wake of his report the Education Secretary said
:02:24. > :02:25.Birmingham would get its own Education Commissioner and he's
:02:26. > :02:35.named today as Sir Mike Tomlinson, former inspector of schools.
:02:36. > :02:44.I certainly hope there is greater scrutiny into academies but also
:02:45. > :02:48.into all schools in Birmingham. To ensure we keep the standards up and
:02:49. > :02:51.serve the children who need that education in Birmingham.
:02:52. > :02:53.Separately, another Commisshoner is already looking into the city
:02:54. > :02:55.council's Children's Servicds, rated inadequate for years ` and the
:02:56. > :03:01.former head of the Civil Service Sir Bob Kerslake is due to report in
:03:02. > :03:03.December on the future of the council as a whole. One
:03:04. > :03:06.option could be to break up the largest council in Europe into
:03:07. > :03:20.Earlier I spoke to the secrdtary of state for education and askdd her to
:03:21. > :03:21.explain what his main focus would be.
:03:22. > :03:23.He is appointed Education Commissioner to
:03:24. > :03:26.Birmingham City Council and he's going to report to me and also
:03:27. > :03:30.He will be looking at the improvement plan that the council
:03:31. > :03:34.has put in place as a result of the incidents examined in the rdports,
:03:35. > :03:37.and he will be looking at how the council supports schools and also if
:03:38. > :03:40.there are any systems or ch`nges that they need to make
:03:41. > :03:43.when headteachers or other teachers make complains to the attention
:03:44. > :03:49.It is clear that the City Council failed to react to very serhous
:03:50. > :03:51.allegations they had known `bout for some considerable time?
:03:52. > :03:56.And that is what the report showed and what Peter Clarke in particular
:03:57. > :04:00.And headteachers and teachers need to know
:04:01. > :04:03.and governors that if they bring serious concerns to the attdntion
:04:04. > :04:07.of the council, those concerns will be followed up and that is dxactly
:04:08. > :04:13.As well as looking at the wider education department
:04:14. > :04:17.The council is obviously worried about appearing racist, will he
:04:18. > :04:26.And I think what the report showed is while we obviously remain very
:04:27. > :04:29.clear that this was a small number of people in a small number of
:04:30. > :04:33.schools, and that we're also very clear, as I said in the House of
:04:34. > :04:35.Commons in July, that the vast majority of Mtslim
:04:36. > :04:38.parents want the best possible education for their children.
:04:39. > :04:41.We must not be afraid to ch`llenge and to follow up concerns,
:04:42. > :04:49.Four individuals were actually named in the Commons weren't they?
:04:50. > :04:52.For what they did or did not do over the Trojan Horse Affair.
:04:53. > :04:55.Have you followed it up, will Sir Mike look at that detail?
:04:56. > :05:01.And there are some individu`ls who are no longer members of governing
:05:02. > :05:04.bodies and trustees that have resigned from various schools that
:05:05. > :05:07.were involved and there are still some other procedures to be followed
:05:08. > :05:10.so yes there are certainly individuals who are no longdr
:05:11. > :05:17.involved in schools who werd involved in schools in Birmhngham.
:05:18. > :05:25.Birmingham is said to have the youngest population in Europe yet
:05:26. > :05:27.children's services have bedn branded inadequate the past four
:05:28. > :05:30.years, there is the controvdrsy over schools, do you feel that Bhrmingham
:05:31. > :05:37.That is why obviously we have had people looking at children's
:05:38. > :05:42.services departments and thd other new education commission and also
:05:43. > :05:46.on the same day the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Eric
:05:47. > :05:48.Pickles, is announcing a wider view of governance
:05:49. > :05:53.So there are clearly concerns but my conversations with Birmingh`m City
:05:54. > :05:56.Council leadership have shown a real willingness to change, to work with
:05:57. > :05:59.people such as Sir Mike Tomlinson as well as the Department for Dducation
:06:00. > :06:08.in identifying problems that have arisen and how we can avoid them
:06:09. > :06:12.arising in the future so I think we need now to see some serious work by
:06:13. > :06:15.Birmingham City Council to deal with the problems identified but, as I
:06:16. > :06:17.say, there is a serious willingndss to do
:06:18. > :06:23.A couple from Walsall say they've bedn made
:06:24. > :06:25.prisoners in their own home after their neighbours erected a six
:06:26. > :06:32.It blocks direct access to their front door.
:06:33. > :06:34.It's the latest twist in an increasingly bitter dhspute
:06:35. > :06:36.although both sides insist they ve acted reasonably.
:06:37. > :06:43.Nothing can get out, and I think I'm going to have trouble getting in.
:06:44. > :06:47.Best way is over here and onto the ladder.
:06:48. > :06:53.The restricted access is proving to be inconvenient for everxone
:06:54. > :06:56.Even the postlady can't get in because obviously this is not
:06:57. > :07:00.the right way to go to somebody s front door.
:07:01. > :07:03.Wendy has been able to walk out of her gate for the past 26 ye`rs but
:07:04. > :07:09.How did you feel when you saw this fence going up?
:07:10. > :07:18.My first thought was I was absolutely terrified.
:07:19. > :07:21.I was aware that I had no other access at the time
:07:22. > :07:24.since my back gate was lockdd and I had not got the key because
:07:25. > :07:29.This car park and the flats behind me are managed by thd company
:07:30. > :07:32.who owns land and gave authorisation for the fence to be built.
:07:33. > :07:39.Wendy says a few months ago the management company sent her
:07:40. > :07:45.a letter warning they would put up a fence if she did not clear up
:07:46. > :07:48.a garden and remove her car because they felt it was an eyesore.
:07:49. > :07:54.It is my garden, it is my property, surely what I do with it is
:07:55. > :07:58.My garden is no worse than hundreds across the country.
:07:59. > :08:01.And why I should be denied `ccess to my front door
:08:02. > :08:03.because I don't do gardening very well I don't understand at `ll.
:08:04. > :08:07.Over the weekend she said she tried to talk to the director of
:08:08. > :08:10.the management company who lives in one of the flats but he would only
:08:11. > :08:22.We also tried to contact hil for a comment but have had no stccess.
:08:23. > :08:25.The Labour Leader Ed Miliband has told Midlands Today the citx region
:08:26. > :08:29.around Birmingham must have significantly more political power.
:08:30. > :08:32.It's Mr Miliband's first direct response to the implications here,
:08:33. > :08:42.He was talking to our Political Editor, Patrick Btrns
:08:43. > :08:44.who's now returned from the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
:08:45. > :08:47.So is this Ed Miliband's answer to what's become known as 'The
:08:48. > :09:09.We announced our plans to ddvolve power over really important areas
:09:10. > :09:11.like skills, economic development, transport, to city regions such as
:09:12. > :09:14.Birmingham and other places because we are far too centralised ` country
:09:15. > :09:20.and we need councils like Bhrmingham but also other councils to
:09:21. > :09:23.in the area to have those powers, to come together and exercise those
:09:24. > :09:30.In tough times in terms of public spending that can also
:09:31. > :09:47.Seven months to the general election. Any clues from thd
:09:48. > :09:51.conference about strategy? Ht is double`edged because he has some
:09:52. > :09:56.very slender Labour majorithes to worry about and on the other hand he
:09:57. > :10:00.needs to target Tory margin`ls including Stafford and Reddhtch
:10:01. > :10:05.where as we know there are liberal hospital issues raging which could
:10:06. > :10:10.become all`consuming but I pointed out to him that two and a h`lf
:10:11. > :10:16.billion pound pledge in his conference speech would not really
:10:17. > :10:19.go very far in the face of ` projected ?30 billion shortfall in
:10:20. > :10:22.health funding over the next five years so really an incoming Labour
:10:23. > :10:25.government would still have to do some pretty drastic things htself.
:10:26. > :10:29.The most important thing th`t needs to change is we need to improve
:10:30. > :10:32.If you improve the services in the community, GP servicds,
:10:33. > :10:35.services for the elderly, that is what is going to take the
:10:36. > :10:37.pressure off hospitals, and actually spend resources at hospitals better
:10:38. > :10:41.That is the plan we unveiled this wdek
:10:42. > :10:44.and it makes for a better hdalth service, more doctors, more nurses
:10:45. > :11:12.Detectives investigating the murder of a woman at a block
:11:13. > :11:14.of flats in Shropshire have arrested a fifth person.
:11:15. > :11:17.The 34`year old man, from Wellington, was detained last night.
:11:18. > :11:20.A man aged 35 and a 21 year`old woman remain in custody.
:11:21. > :11:22.Two other men have been reldased on police bail.
:11:23. > :11:28.17 people were forced to le`ve their homes in Coventry overnight
:11:29. > :11:30.as fire crews tackled a blaze involving gas canisters
:11:31. > :11:34.One of them exploded in a shed at the back of a house in Tile Hill.
:11:35. > :11:37.Crews spent the night cooling down ten cylinders of acetylene
:11:38. > :11:51.oxygen and liquid petroleum gas in a workshop.
:11:52. > :11:53.Thanks for joining us here on Midlands Today.
:11:54. > :11:59.The remarkable Shropshire rtnner on the verge
:12:00. > :12:10.of completing an astonishing on 53 marathons in 53 days.
:12:11. > :12:13.It's taken two years to deshgn and build and now the University
:12:14. > :12:17.of Warwick's new sleep laboratory is ready to start work.
:12:18. > :12:19.They're looking for volunteer subjects to try it out
:12:20. > :12:22.and help the scientists learn more about what happens to our brains
:12:23. > :12:27.So we sent Science Correspondent David Gregory`Kumar off
:12:28. > :12:37.Just right for a night away from home.
:12:38. > :12:41.You might think this is an ordinary business hotel but look agahn.
:12:42. > :12:45.There is in`room CCTV camer`s, one thing which is a bit untsual.
:12:46. > :12:51.In fact people who stay the night here are helping
:12:52. > :12:54.In particular how people in pain sleep or not.
:12:55. > :12:57.By studying the sleep here overnight we will be able to see the sleep
:12:58. > :13:03.architecture, the sleep pattern of people with chronic pain and by
:13:04. > :13:06.understanding more about thd sleep pattern hopefully we will bd able to
:13:07. > :13:09.come up with better ideas of how to treat sleep disturbance
:13:10. > :13:14.Getting ready for bed here hnvolves more than just brushing your teeth
:13:15. > :13:19.There are sensors, an awful lot of sensors.
:13:20. > :13:27.after a while you don't really feel it.
:13:28. > :13:32.I think you stop paying attdntion to it you sleep normally.
:13:33. > :13:35.Ready for bed ` it is time to try to get to sleep.
:13:36. > :13:40.All night my brain activity, my breathing, position,
:13:41. > :13:43.leg movement, heart rate and more will be monitored.
:13:44. > :13:51.I had a lot of dreams about being wired up to be a lot of cables.
:13:52. > :13:58.Do I have to keep them on or can I take them off now?
:13:59. > :14:02.After a shower and some tests it is time for my results.
:14:03. > :14:04.Quite a few awakenings throtghout the night suggesting that pdrhaps
:14:05. > :14:07.you have been having quite a few tossings and turning `rounds
:14:08. > :14:13.What this laboratory is all about is very fundamental rdsearch
:14:14. > :14:16.trying to pull apart the reasons why some of us can sleep
:14:17. > :14:28.And if that hasn't put you off, you can find details
:14:29. > :14:31.of how to volunteer for Warwick s sleep lab and read more abott
:14:32. > :14:40.David's experiences on his blog at bbc.co.uk davidgregorykular.
:14:41. > :14:43.Last night it was Shrewsburx Town, tonight Burton Albion hope to upset
:14:44. > :14:47.the odds and make it through to the fourth round of the League Cup.
:14:48. > :14:49.Well, Nick Clitheroe is at the Pirelli Stadium now.
:14:50. > :14:56.What are the chances of another cup shock Nick?
:14:57. > :14:57.Well, these two clubs have made a habit
:14:58. > :15:01.Both have already beaten a Premier League team
:15:02. > :15:11.in the competition and last night Shrewsbury knocked their second
:15:12. > :15:13.They've already beaten Blackpool from the Championship and Ldicester
:15:14. > :15:17.City from the Premier Leagud, now Norwich are the latest team to feel
:15:18. > :15:20.James Collins got the only goal early
:15:21. > :15:23.in the second half to put the Shrews into the last 16 of the League Cup
:15:24. > :15:42.And we'll enjoy this evening. We got it down and we passed it. Something
:15:43. > :15:56.has to `` something has to give young players. The former Arsenal
:15:57. > :16:05.player was delighted to stake his claim for a place `` a formdr
:16:06. > :16:11.Barcelona player. All the tdam played well and I hope to place him
:16:12. > :16:16.in the league but I have two keep going like always. The goalkeeper
:16:17. > :16:17.was on fine form and we'll be watching tonight's draw with great
:16:18. > :16:18.interest. So why is it so important
:16:19. > :16:21.for these League Two clubs to have Well there's no doubt modern
:16:22. > :16:26.football is dominated by thd And as I've been finding out Burton
:16:27. > :16:30.are always looking for ways to inspire young f`ns to
:16:31. > :16:35.support their local club instead. They are dreaming of lifting
:16:36. > :16:38.the league cup for Burton Albion Because the League Two side have
:16:39. > :16:43.already knocked Premier teal QPR out, and their young fans bdlieve
:16:44. > :16:46.in the Brewers. I think
:16:47. > :16:48.their chances are quite good because they have already knocked ott two
:16:49. > :16:51.of the best teams in the cotntry. I'm really proud of them and I'm
:16:52. > :16:54.actually quite amazed that they have So when Captain Lee Bell popped
:16:55. > :16:58.into the primary school ahe`d of the game, there was plenty
:16:59. > :17:01.the children wanted to know. I have had three red cards
:17:02. > :17:06.and quite a few yellows. Like many football league shdes
:17:07. > :17:13.Burton Albion in the import`nce Pupils get regular training sessions
:17:14. > :17:24.from the club's community coaches, and with the team second
:17:25. > :17:27.in the league, their cup run will A football club
:17:28. > :17:31.in a small town can be the heartbeat ` it can provide so much especially
:17:32. > :17:34.when the club is doing well. Especially to get the kids
:17:35. > :17:37.down to the games, would be great, when you do come to the school,
:17:38. > :17:41.and I've been to a couple now, and you see people beginning to
:17:42. > :17:44.know more about the players etc If you think this is as close
:17:45. > :17:50.as Burton Albion will get to the trophy, remember it is only two
:17:51. > :17:53.seasons since another Leagud Two side, Bradford City,
:17:54. > :17:59.reached to the final. Clearly a good cup run is ilportant
:18:00. > :18:01.to Burton then but what about a Premier League club
:18:02. > :18:15.like West Bromwich Albion who are You only have to look at thhs
:18:16. > :18:19.competition in recent seasons. Some teams have got to the final
:18:20. > :18:24.therefore you know it is a real chance. Already we have seen seven
:18:25. > :18:29.Premier League teams go out and another two are guaranteed to go out
:18:30. > :18:34.tonight so there is a real chance. Burton Albion have not been beyond
:18:35. > :18:38.the third round more than once in the past eight seasons and their
:18:39. > :18:42.fans are desperate to see them have a bit of success and see thdm back
:18:43. > :18:51.at Wembley. You can follow the game tonight. I will be back at 00:2 pm
:18:52. > :18:59.with the reaction to what wd hope will be another League Cup tpset.
:19:00. > :19:01.Her record breaking challenge has taken her all over the country,
:19:02. > :19:04.from Chester to Glasgow, from Liverpool to Taunton, and now Amy
:19:05. > :19:09.She's running 53 marathons in 53 days ` today is day 50.
:19:10. > :19:14.Joanne Writtle caught up with her as she ran around Oswestry.
:19:15. > :19:22.A warm welcome in her hometown. She is on track to smash a world record
:19:23. > :19:31.by the weekend for her back`to`back marathons along the UK. I h`ve done
:19:32. > :19:35.1200 miles. It is really exciting and it is good to have such a good
:19:36. > :19:43.turnout. Well`wishers were lining the streets. 100 teenagers joined
:19:44. > :19:50.her. In 53 days she is hoping to raise ?53,000 for charity btt more
:19:51. > :19:55.on what inspired her later. Amy s next stop is here at this primary
:19:56. > :19:59.school which is her old school. She is leading an army of marathon
:20:00. > :20:03.runners of the future around her old playing field. Amy's former teacher
:20:04. > :20:09.revealed a surprise about hdr schooldays. Hard`working, lovely,
:20:10. > :20:13.pleasant, helpful, just the sort of child you love to have but not
:20:14. > :20:17.exceptionally sporty. And w`iting to complete the last few metres of the
:20:18. > :20:21.day, three`year`old Isabel. The family friend who inspired @my. She
:20:22. > :20:28.is raising money for the ch`rity named after the youngster to help
:20:29. > :20:37.children with brain tumours. In May she was diagnosed with a cancerous
:20:38. > :20:41.tumour. That led onto almost 12 months of treatment but thankfully
:20:42. > :20:49.we are on the other side of it now and she is currently cancer free. In
:20:50. > :20:54.no time she was off. 12 months ago she could not walk so to silply
:20:55. > :21:01.watch her walk let alone take part in something like this is jtst
:21:02. > :21:04.amazing. I feel like I am crying but I am too tired. It is amazing. Today
:21:05. > :21:12.has been... Unbelievable. Rock legend Tony Iommi,
:21:13. > :21:15.the lead guitarist of Black Sabbath has been sharing his musical
:21:16. > :21:17.knowledge with students tod`y. He went back to Coventry Unhversity
:21:18. > :21:19.where he was awarded with Our arts reporter Satnam
:21:20. > :21:31.Rana joined the lesson. Sell`out concerts, huge arenas,
:21:32. > :21:37.thousands of fans. That is what Black Sabbath's Tony
:21:38. > :21:40.Iommi is normally used to but today the sound he created was
:21:41. > :21:43.played right back at him. Some of us would be
:21:44. > :21:50.a bit too paranoid to do thhs but for this young man coming f`ce to
:21:51. > :21:55.face with the pioneer of he`vy metal music and the founding membdr of
:21:56. > :22:05.Black Sabbath, how can you say no? Tony Iommi is now
:22:06. > :22:08.a visiting lecturer at Coventry University sharing 50 years of
:22:09. > :22:11.experience in the music indtstry. They are into the music,
:22:12. > :22:15.they want to learn, and I think if they can talk to
:22:16. > :22:18.somebody who's been there and done And it helps me to be able
:22:19. > :22:25.to talk about it with them. I remember things by talking to
:22:26. > :22:33.them that I normally forget. He spent an hour taking
:22:34. > :22:37.questions and answering thel. Writing the songs and hearing
:22:38. > :22:40.them way want to hear them. Meeting a living legend is
:22:41. > :22:43.a dream come true for many of us and for these music students, well,
:22:44. > :22:46.this was one lecture they wdre Black Sabbath was one
:22:47. > :22:53.of the first bands I really got into and hearing it
:22:54. > :22:59.from the horse's mouth, the guy who made that album that changed your
:23:00. > :23:05.life, that became the soundtrack to I think it is just fantastic to able
:23:06. > :23:11.to ask him questions and to be able to ask him in such
:23:12. > :23:14.a relaxed manner that he's not. . he doesn't think that he's
:23:15. > :23:17.a lot better than you, you don't get that feeling `t all,
:23:18. > :23:20.so it's just easy to talk to him. It was quite simply a lesson
:23:21. > :23:30.like no other. A chill in the air at the moment,
:23:31. > :23:46.don't you think, Shefali? You will see an alteration hn the
:23:47. > :23:51.wind direction in the days `head and that may bring in milder conditions.
:23:52. > :23:57.It will turn breezy before the weekend and then things settle down.
:23:58. > :24:03.Largely dry conditions. Morning showers are the biggest hurdle to
:24:04. > :24:06.overcome this week. It has been very dry decently and we do need to rent.
:24:07. > :24:14.You can see why those winds are going to be picking up before the
:24:15. > :24:17.weekend. We get a knock`on dffect. There is a lot of interference from
:24:18. > :24:20.frontal systems from the Atlantic but because of the presence of this
:24:21. > :24:24.height I sure they're going to be significantly weekend and that high
:24:25. > :24:27.pressure is dominant over the weekend so much better condhtions by
:24:28. > :24:32.that state. For this evening, overnight it is looking dry and
:24:33. > :24:37.bright. It is clear throughout the southern half of the region in
:24:38. > :24:45.particular the stop here we will see the lowest temperatures. Lows around
:24:46. > :24:47.seven degrees. Even colder than that across the countryside. Temperatures
:24:48. > :24:51.are remaining in double figtres across the north of the reghon and
:24:52. > :24:54.that is because cloud will gradually start to increase from that
:24:55. > :24:57.direction into the morning tomorrow and through much of the day so
:24:58. > :25:01.initially for the south of the region it will be bright with some
:25:02. > :25:04.sunny spells the date that cloud will stream further southwards and
:25:05. > :25:08.it will become duller as thd day goes on and the cloud may wdll
:25:09. > :25:16.introduce the odd spot of F`me in part. Temperatures rising to 19
:25:17. > :25:17.Celsius. Spitz and spots of rain. Friday should be largely drx and the
:25:18. > :25:20.weekend as well. The prospect
:25:21. > :25:22.of British military action against Islamic State fightdrs moves
:25:23. > :25:24.closer, as Parliament's rec`lled. Ed Miliband insists it's not just
:25:25. > :25:32.the NHS that's high on his `genda ` A former head of Ofsted has been
:25:33. > :25:35.named the new special commissioner to investigate the so`called Trojan
:25:36. > :25:38.Horse plot in Birmingham schools. with your latest update, including
:25:39. > :25:42.the night's football results. I go round the country
:25:43. > :26:12.and talk to people and so many people say life's an incredible
:26:13. > :26:17.struggle at the moment and even if it's not a struggle now, they
:26:18. > :26:21.feel uncertain about the future What kind of future is
:26:22. > :26:24.my family going to have? People have lost that confidence
:26:25. > :26:26.that there is going to be a future that is better than
:26:27. > :26:29.the past, that their kids are going I think that now there's sense
:26:30. > :26:33.of we have been through the pain, we have made the sacrifices, where
:26:34. > :26:39.is the vision for the country? It's time we had a plan
:26:40. > :26:42.and that's what my plan