For Parents and Carers

Why choose a Museum School
      for your child?


Surprising things happen at The Langley Academy because of our Museum Leaning focus.  Building bridges in DT, turning a classroom into a story for English, trying on armour in French, it is an exciting environment to learn in.  A boat, sails unfurled, is suspended gracefully from the ceiling. A dinosaur lurks under the stairs. Museum Learning helps students to look and look again.

Each project is designed to support your childs attainment or pastoral wellbeing.  We work with university collections in Oxford, London and Reading, giving our students the chance to think about options after school. We run museum projects allowing students to do something for real, like running an early years activity or catering for an event. Most of our Museum Learning activity takes place during lessons, within school time.  Your child may not even realise they are doing Museum Learning.

We have just started to develop Museum Learning at Parlaunt Park Primary Academy and The Langley Academy Primary and are excited about the potential this approach offers for children and young people from 4 – 18.

 

Some examples of projects:

  • Science Year 7 Ideas and evidence:
    Oxford Museum of Natural history and Museum of the History. Students learn about how science works.
  • English Year 9 Frankenstein:
    Old Operating Theatre and the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons. Students learn about Gothic.
  • Health and Social Care year 10. River Rowing Museum:
    Students create and deliver early years activities.

Museum trips


Last year over half of all adults and two thirds of children visited a museum. To the national and big regional museums, over 66.8 million visits were made. Many more small services are not included in that figure.  At The Langley Academy we get students involved in every year group, and there are plenty of opportunities for parents and carers to take part as well.

 

Your child will get a letter home from their teacher with information about their trip.  Most museum trips are part of a bigger project the student is doing back in class so they are important for your child to attend. Transport is generously funded by the SUVA trust and we do our best to keep other costs to a minimum. You will find most trips are free.

Don't forget

  • Have you completed an annual consent form with up-to-date medical and contact information?
  • If there is a charge, have you paid via the Parentpay website?  https://www.parentpay.com/
  • Does the trip require a packed lunch? A school packed lunch is available for students on Free School Meals.
  • Does your child need an inhaler? Is it with them on the day?

 

If you registered your child as needing an inhaler for asthma on the medical form, he or she MUST have it with them for the trip. We cannot take a child without an inhaler if the medical form says one is needed.   
Most trips take place within the school day, but occasionally the coach will return after school hours. If you have any concerns on the day of the trip, you can call:

  • Academy Reception: 01753 214440
    (Quickest way to get a message to the group)
  • Museum Learning mobile:  07583 910758
    (This may have to be turned off in some museums)

Family Coach to London - A free
     trip for you and your children


Every year we run a free trip to London. This takes place on a Saturday in November, usually coinciding with national Takeover Day, a Kids In Museums initiative.  http://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/


The coach takes you in comfort from Langley to Exhibition Road in London, home of three fantastic and free museums:

  • Natural History Museum
  • The Science Museum
  • The V&A

 

After a day exploring London however you choose, the coach then returns you safely back home again.

 

Parents say:

“All of the fun and none of the hassle.”

 

“Brilliant! The kids loved it.”

 

“Really good. Inspired lots of questions from the children.”

Volunteer

 

If you would like to get more involved in Museum Learning, you could join us as a volunteer. The role could involve:

  • Supporting trips
  • Setting exhibitions
  • Research
  • Evaluation

To apply for a voluntary role please visit: http://www.langleyacademy.org/pages/volunteering.html

Useful websites

If you are thinking about a museum visit, or if you would just like some help with homework, here are some websites: