The Grove, the new Sixth-Form provision for Forest Oak School, has opened to support learners with additional needs in the next phase of their education. The centre, which is located on the site of Tudor Grange Academy (TGA) Kingshurst but not part of that school, formally opened on Wednesday 15 October.
It will provide much needed education opportunities for local children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in a newly refurbished building. The Grove is spacious and self-contained in a way that allows it to have a distinct identity and offers facilities that were not previously available in Solihull.
The Deputy Mayor of Solihull, Cllr Martin McCarthy, was there to meet some of the 32 students already attending The Grove and take a look around the brilliant new learning environment. He said:
“It is a pleasure to visit this fantastic new centre and meet the young people who will benefit. I know that with access to these wonderful facilities and with the support from dedicated teachers and staff, your journey to success will be much easier.”
Guests to the official opening were given a tour around The Grove by current students Daniel, Lacey-Lou and Kayne. They showed them the various classrooms, common rooms, quiet spaces and outdoor facilities. Kayne also gave a short speech about his own journey through the school and what he hopes to do in the future, including work experience within the main school building at TGA Kingshurst.
Kieran Ryan-Grealish, Executive Head Teacher at Forest Oak School, added:
“There’s been a lot of hard work and collaboration between Solihull Council, TGA Kingshurst, and our school to get to this point and I’m proud we’ve been able to get it open and ready for our students. It is amazing to see them already thriving and we look forward to more young people joining us in the future.”
At the opening, Claire MacLean, Chief Executive Officer of the Tudor Grange Academies Trust, commented:
“It is a real privilege to be here today and to meet some of the students from Forest Oak. It was not that long ago when we first started working on this project, and it is brilliant to see what can be achieved in a short amount of time when everyone has a collective goal – giving these young people the chance to learn and progress in a friendly and nurturing environment and an opportunity to reach their full potential.”