A NEW free school opened its doors last week to become the 52nd of its type in the country.

The Langley Academy Primary was proposed by The Langley Academy Trust in a ‘desire to enrich the educational opportunities of the local community by developing an all-through, child-centred academy’, serving pupils aged four-18.

The academy’s curriculum is based on the concept of Museum Learning and is designed to develop learners who are passionate and show curiosity, exploration and discovery, in all they do.

The academy will admit 90 reception pupils each year and when full, will educate 630 young children.

Tracey Bowen, headteacher of The Langley Academy Primary, said: “There has been a lot of planning and preparation to enable us to open and it has been a momentous occasion welcoming our first pupils.

“Children have arrived looking very smart and feeling very positive about their new school. We will continue to work closely with parents, to shape an education that enables each child to excel.”

Nick Timothy, director of New Schools Network, a charity set up to help groups open free schools, said: “It’s fantastic to see The Langley Academy Primary open its doors for the first time this week and join more than 300 other free schools that are now open across England.

“The first free schools opened in 2011 and they are already making a huge difference to communities across the country.

“Free schools are more than twice as likely to be judged ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted as other state schools.”

Parents who are interested in registering their children to attend The Langley Academy Primary in September 2016 should visit the website www.langleyacademyprimary.org