WHAT has got a 'living' grass roof, sun pipes which channel natural light into rooms and a geo-thermal heating system?
No, it's not a new science museum, or the latest tourist attraction, but the site of a brand new £8 million campus for two special schools in the borough.
Built by Moss Construction, Forest Oak and Merstone Schools are the first in the country to be rebuilt as part of the Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which aims to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England over the next 15 years.
The schools share the campus on the site of Smith's Wood Secondary School, which will cater for 180 pupils. Pupils will also benefit from state-of-the-art ICT equipment, a warm water pool, light and dark sensory rooms, specialist curriculum rooms and play facilities.
Forest Oak School caters for children with moderate learning difficulties who are aged between four and 16 years, while Merstone School caters for children aged two to 19 years of age, who have severe and complex learning difficulties.
Mark Rogers, corporate director of education and children's services at Solihull Council, said: "It's hugely innonvative. In terms of having the very best in learning, the built environment has been designed in such a way to make the learning and the teaching as enjoyable as possible."
The schools opened last week and to celebrate completion, a creative arts experience is taking place this Friday, June 23. It will be officially opened in the Autumn term.
Solihull was awarded over £80 million worth of BSF funding to transform six schools in the north of the borough.
The other four schools to be rebuilt are Park Hall, which will specialise in maths and computing, Smith's Wood, which will specialise in sports and English, Archbishop Grimshaw, which will specialise in arts and language, and Lanchester Special School, which will cater for 50 pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.
Councillor Ken Meeson, cabinet member for education, children and young people, said: "Solihull has an excellent record of meeting all educational needs, with exceptionally dedicated staff who always put children first. "We have delivered on time and budget, a new campus that is a first class environment for taking forward our commitment to a brighter future for all our children."
