Parents and guardians of children due to start school for the first time in September 2016 have just two more weeks to apply for reception class places. The window for applications for reception places at infant and primary schools in Wolverhampton closes on Friday 15 January, 2016, and families are being urged to complete theirs as soon as possible.

A student leading a campaign to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes from an Oxford college has turned his fire on the university itself, accusing it of spreading “injustice” around the world by educating future leaders with a “skewed” and “Eurocentric” mindset. South African Rhodes scholar Ntokozo Qwabe claimed that students there endure “systemic racism, patriarchy and other oppressions” on a daily basis.

Five young people from north Smethwick are celebrating their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards following voluntary work in the local community. The five have got involved with a range of activities, including helping out at the Community Connect Foundation youth club and volunteering as IT buddies at Smethwick Library.

A fantastic new series of a fly-on-the-wall documentary charting the journey of pupils starting ‘big school’ in Birmingham is to start on CBBC on Tuesday 5 January at 5pm. Filmed at Greenwood Academy in Castle Vale, Our School 2 will follow the ups and downs of a group of youngsters as they make the important transition between primary and secondary school.

A free careers fair is to be held at Sandwell College's Central Sixth campus in West Bromwich on Saturday 16 January, 10am – 2pm.  The hugely successful annual New Year, New Start 2016 apprenticeship, education, training and jobs fair is now in its seventh year and is open to all 14 to 19-year-olds (or up to 25 years old if they have a learning difficulty or disability) and their parents living in Sandwell.

Walsall College Fashion students received a back stage tour of designer goods being manufactured on the production line when they visited the Brady Bags factory in Walsall. Brady Bags are high quality sporting bags hand-made in Walsall, from best quality canvas, brass components and English bridle leather. Established since 1887, Brady is a renowned name around the world.