Birmingham boasts some seriously talented exports, from movie stars, and musicians, a Nobel peace prize winner and even a former Prime Minister.
If you went to the same school as one of Brum’s celebrity alumni, then you’ll definitely have grown up hearing stories about them.
Schools across the region are deservedly proud of their famous former pupils, who have gone on to achieve highly after their time in education.
Birmingham is also home to numerous big names, including famous footballers and high ranking political figures.
The city has been the home to many powerful and controversial political figures over the years.
So, we’ve taken a look at eight famous politicians and the schools in and around Birmingham that they attended.
1. Andy Street: King Edward’s School, Edgbaston
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street was born in Banbury but grew up in Birmingham. He attended Green Meadow Infants School, Langley Junior School and King Edward’s School in Edgbaston before studying at Oxford
2. Enoch Powell: King’s Norton Grammar School for Boys
Enoch Powell served as a Conservative MP from 1950–1974 and was Minister of Health in the 1960s. Born in Stechford, he attracted widespread attention for his controversial “Rivers of Blood” speech, which strongly criticised mass immigration. As a child, he went to King’s Norton Grammar School for Boys before he won a scholarship to King Edward’s School in Edgbaston
3. Neville Chamberlain: Rugby School and University of Birmingham
Neville Chamberlain served as a Conservative Prime Minister between 1937-1940. He is most known for his role in WW2 when he signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, that relinquished Czechoslovakia to the Nazis. Chamberlain was born in Edgbaston and was initially home-schooled. Later, he attended Rugby School in Warwickshire before attending the University of Birmingham
4. Jess Phillips: King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Labour MP Jess Phillips was born in Birmingham and grew up in the city. She attended the local grammar school King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls before being named Labour’s Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding Photo: PA