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Sheffield's latest school a big hit
SHEFFIELD's newest school has a reception area more like the lobby of the latest boutique hotel.
Each classroom has its own outdoor study area, plus dedicated en suite toilets.
And it has a unique 'eco' roof with a pond and plantlife designed to attract creatures of all kinds.
This is Sharrow's new superschool - a primary which is attracting interest from architects and designers all over the country.
It's also tipped to win a number of design awards over the coming months.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
Newly opened in September, the 6 million school is home to 450 pupils from one of the most diverse inner city communities in the city.
Headteacher Lynne Ley said the idea was to create a school that didn't really feel much like a school.
"To me it feels a bit like a college," she said. "The whole school is very open, it's easy for children and families to use and it's easy to see what is happening."
The children were responding to their new surroundings, behaving maturely and becoming more independent, Lynne said.
"It was a bit of a shock for the pupils when they first walked in - there are no corridors, the toilets are all in the classrooms and year groups work in open plan bases."
Sharrow Primary is also now officially Sheffield's greenest school, with a heating system powered by warmth coming up from deep in the earth, toilets operated by rainwater - and with a roof covered with soil and brick chippings.
As part of a partnership with Sheffield University, the roof is designed to attract birds and other kinds of wildlife and includes rotting tree stumps which are perfect for many kinds of insects.
Already jays, robins and blackbirds have been spotted, with more species expected once spring arrives.
"The plan is for us to have webcams linked to the classrooms so the children can see what is going on on the roof," Lynne explained.
Watch our picture slideshow of the new school. Click on the green play icon at the top of the page.
The school is also designed to be a year-round resource for the community, open from 8am till 6pm virtually the whole year round. Facilities include a music and drama room, a large hall for performances and even a climbing wall.
And the pupils think their school is just great.
"It's excellent - we don't get to go up on the roof that often but when we do it's nice and peaceful with a really good view," said Ned Dobbs, aged 10.
"When we first came here we just said 'wow' - we were a bit shellshocked," said Kashka Arnell, also 10.
"It's so huge, it's so clean and it's also very green - I came here from another school which was very different to this one," said 10-year-old Amrutha Mahabashyan.
Lynne added: "People seem to be proud of the school and we all feel it has been well worth waiting for."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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