Rower Pinsent opens museum school

The building was designed by Foster and Partners

A school, thought to be the first in the UK with its own museum, has been opened by Olympic rower Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE.

The Langley Academy, Slough, cost £23m and will specialise in museum-based learning, using artefacts.

Its collection of 500 items includes the boat used by the British rowing crew in the 2000 Olympics.

The academy replaces Langleywood School that had been placed in special measures and has been demolished.

The building, designed by Foster and Partners, includes 10 raised science laboratories, a theatre and TV and sound recording studio. It is sited on nine hectares (23 acres) of grounds.

Principal Chris Bowler said: "Over the next 12 months our Museum Learning and sporting excellence programmes will expand."

Museum learning is a recognised teaching model said to have been pioneered in New York.