LangleyAcademy106

House System

The house system at The Langley Academy demonstrates our commitment to being an inclusive comprehensive school which celebrates the diversity of our community and our world. Our house values reflect this and our house figureheads, who all have connections to The Academy, Langley or Slough, have been chosen as role models to be emulated and celebrated. 

Museum Learning underpins all of this and is used to make our house system even.


Please click on the expandable sections to view information on our Houses.

Arbib- home of sustainability

Arbib Langley 210x45mm Covers5Arbib House

House Value: Sustainability, the ability to meet our needs without endangering future generations. 

Our academy was designed and built for sustainability. It has a biomass boiler and draws on natural underground thermal energy with a ground source heat pump.  Rainwater is collected on the roof, stored in a vast underground tank, and then efficiently recycled for flushing in student washrooms. Solar panels provide electricity and photovoltaic cells power the car park lamp posts. A reed bed filters grey water from the building and uses it to irrigate our trees. We also minimize our use of paper, send used paper for recycling, and use cloud-based data to save energy. Students engage with problems of pollution and climate change. They use their knowledge and skills from geography and science lessons to explore solutions to local and global challenges. Assemblies, House Tutor Time and in-school Museum exhibitions also provide space to discuss and question sustainability for the future. 

The figurehead of Arbib House- Annabel Nicoll   

  • Annabel Nicoll is the daughter of Sir Martyn Arbib who was the original sponsor of The Langley Academy. She now leads this work through the Annabel Arbib Foundation 
  • Annabel makes many contributions to the Academy, she even buys all students their first school blazer in year 7  
  • Annabel was the guiding force behind the sustainable technologies at the Academy to inspire future generations 
  • The wider Arbib family has strong connections to sustainability. Annabel’s brother James is a leader in innovative technology for sustainability  
  • Ben Arbib, Annabel’s other brother, is an investor who supports sustainable technology in the food sector

Herschel- home of inquiry

Herschel Langley 210x45mm Covers3Herschel House

House Value: Enquiry, asking questions or collecting information. 

Curiosity, exploration, and discovery: This is our academy ethos. The spirit of enquiry is at the heart of Academy life. It is present in all subjects, and above all in Science. Here students research, experiment, discuss and develop arguments. They explore the significance of sustainability in scientific and technological developments. Students learn about scientific developments over time, and we challenge them to plan for future needs. The eye-opening activities students enjoy when we celebrate in National Science and Engineering Week are a real highlight. These events demonstrate to students the power and importance of Science Communication. Students consider how knowledge and understanding of science informs personal and collective decisions. We aim to capture and extend the scientific imagination of students and inspire them to make positive choices about their future, including careers.  

The figurehead of Herschel House- Caroline Herschel (1759-1848)   

  • Caroline Herschel was the first professional female scientist in the UK and the world’s first professional astronomer, paid for by King George III  
  • Caroline was a refugee. She fled war in Germany with her brother William. They lived in Slough for many years and had a space observatory on the Bath Road​  
  • She worked alongside and supported her brother William. In her own right she discovered 8 comets and catalogued 560 stars ​  
  • She was awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society in 1838. The next woman to receive one was in 1996 
  • Caroline achieved all this despite disabilities caused by smallpox and typhus  

Holmes-home of sportsmanship

Holmes Langley 210x45mm Covers1Holmes House

House value: Sportsmanship, fair and generous behaviour or treatment of others. 

At The Langley Academy we want students to live and breathe sportsmanship. Confidence, self-discipline, teamworking and determination are valued here in all subjects. We help our students grow a love of sport, for its own sake and to promote health and fitness for life.  Our students love competing in sport and in inter-house rivalries, bringing students together with a common aim.  ​We encourage our students to display the qualities of sportsmanship to contribute to our strong, caring community. Rowing is a key focus at the Academy and rewards all who participate; aesthetic and graceful, yet explosive and powerful. From the rivers of England to the vast oceans of the world it is an iconic symbol, synonymous with British sporting excellence. Our Director of Rowing is a Gold Level rowing coach and has coached at World Junior Championships level. Students take part in indoor and outdoor rowing competitions, and we have rowing champions across the age groups.  

The figurehead of Holmes House- Andy Holmes (1959 -2010)  

  • Andy introduced rowing to The Langley Academy as our first Director of Rowing   
  • He won two Olympic Gold Medals, 1984 in the men’s coxed four and 1988 in the men’s coxless pair 
  •  In 1988 he also took Olympic Bronze in the coxed pair ​  
  • Andy rowed for England in the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, winning the coxed four and the coxless pair competitions  
  • Andy believed that rowing should be for everyone, no matter what their background. 

Kumar-home of creativity

Kumar Langley 210x45mm Covers4Kumar House

House value: Creativity, using imagination to spark innovation.  

Creativity allows us to​ combine ideas for purpose or enjoyment. With creativity we can playfully explore shape, form, colour and sound to imagine and make new things. These concepts give us the drive and originality to succeed. Our creativity makes us unique. Students at the Langley Academy are encouraged to use their imagination within lessons, whether it be composing a photograph, a play, poem, or a piece of music, designing a key ring or a canapé, solving a maths problem, planning a marketing campaign, writing an essay or even thinking about atomic particles. Students can take part in school musicals, enjoy drama club, sing in the choir, or in a band. Langley’s Got Talent is a fantastic end of year showcase for students’ performance abilities. Our Atrium space is decorated with a mixture of museum and art installations to inspire our students’ creativity. Our exhibitions bring ideas and objects from local and national museums and galleries to the heart of the building for our students to enjoy. 

The figurehead of Kumar House- Pravesh Kumar  

  • Pravesh grew up in Langley and is the founder, Artistic Director, and Chief Executive Director of Rifco Theatre Company ​  
  • Pravesh worked for the Indian Film Industry and was nominated for the Satyajit Ray Short Film Award in 2009 
  • He has made Rifco into one of the UK's most successful touring theatre companies. The company develops, produces and tours vibrant, accessible, and ambitious new plays and musicals that reflect and celebrate British Asian contemporary experiences. 
  • Pravesh was awarded an MBE in 2022 for his services to British art and culture  
  • Pravesh encourages young people into theatre with the Rifco Associates programme, finding new British South Asian voices of the future  

Nash- home of humanitarianism

Nash Langley 210x45mm Covers2Nash House

House Value: Humanitarianism, belief in the value of human life.

At The Langley Academy we believe in the value of humanitarianism, promoting human welfare for active moral and sociological reasons.  It is about benevolence, assistance to others and caring for the community beyond the self. As part of Personal Development at The Academy every student is encouraged to be understanding and thoughtful of others.  We are proud that our students are enthusiastic about opportunities to help others and that they care about our Langley community and beyond. Our Duke of Edinburgh programme is hugely popular, we offer it at bronze, silver, and gold level, allowing students to volunteer to support our local community. Our Sixth Form Students also undertake community service, supporting younger students and contributing to charity events. Every year group elects students to take part in the Academy Council and at Sixth Form to the Student Leadership Team. Academy students vote in Make Your Mark, the UK’s Youth Parliament on pressing issues of the day. 

The figurehead of Nash House- Paul Nash (1889-1946)   

  • Paul Nash was a surrealist painter and war artist, as well as a photographer, writer, and designer of applied art  
  • He grew up in Iver and is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, opposite The Langley Academy  
  • Paul Nash was a War Artist for the First World War. His artwork showed the dramatic damage caused by the conflict and helped change how people thought about war 
  • Paul Nash continued to be a War Artist in the Second World War 
  • He was among the most important landscape artists of the first half of the twentieth century and played a key role in the development of Modernism in English art 

Simmons- home of internationalism

Simmons Langley 210x45mm Covers6Simmons House  

House Value: Internationalism, cooperation between states and nations. 

The Langley Academy aims to offer the widest range of experiences for its’ students, and this includes promoting international awareness. Students are encouraged to appreciate diverse cultures and to be citizens of the world. Our Heritage Day, which runs each year, celebrates the international diversity in The Academy and during International Term students take part in a range of activities to explore and learn about students from other cultures. We also ensure that we always celebrate events like the European Day of Languages. We are proud that all students study either Spanish or French in years 7- 8, many continue in year 9 and we encourage students to take a language at GCSE.  With a vast array of nationalities amongst both students and staff, The Academy truly has an international dimension. Our last OFSTED inspection recognised the excellent harmonious atmosphere at the Academy.  

The figurehead of Simmons House: Lydia Simmons  

  • Lydia Simmons was born in Montserrat and moved to London with the Windrush generation   
  • She became the first black female mayor in the UK as Mayor of Slough in 1984  
  • Lydia spent a lot of time listening to children and young people in Slough to improve their services  
  • She successfully changed the housing policy so that it helps those in most need first 
  • Lydia received an OBE from the Queen in 2011 in recognition of her work in Slough 

Latest Tweets

@LangleyAcademy - Oct 10
! 💚💛 Today, we came together to raise awareness and show that mental health matters—for teachers, parents, and students alike. Check in with those around you, lend a helping hand, and let's make mental health a priority for everyone! pic.twitter.com/tsrwBRMYAz— The Langley Academy () October 10, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Oct 9
Join the fun this half term at St Mary's Church, SL3 7EN.You can:- Interact with our exhibition about toys and games.- Socialise at the games station.- Handle museum objects.- Get creative with craft activities.#exhibition pic.twitter.com/eRBuEo9K5l— Museum Learning at the Arbib Education Trust () October 9, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Oct 4
Would you like to inspire the next generation?Applications are now open to train at any of our schools: The Langley Academy Primary Langley Heritage Primary Langley Academy & our partner school Ditton Park Academy https://t.co/1B4YL5vYtn— The Langley Academy () October 4, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Sep 19
Ever dreamed of working with horses? Our Year 10s went to Ascot Racecourse with Academy, learning to ride, groom, and explore careers in racing! From horse care to perfecting their jockey pose—an unforgettable experience! pic.twitter.com/4HJ9mZLRs8— The Arbib Education Trust () September 19, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Sep 19
'Tags Restoration Project' on display! a powerful new art installation touring Slough schools. Inspired by the Knife Angel, with 900+ heartfelt messages left by the community to . Congrats to Ovais for this impactful tribute. https://t.co/GrrPihhyBP pic.twitter.com/UrN3ANvLom— The Arbib Education Trust () September 19, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Sep 11
Students from TVLP schools it time to get creative!Design a theatre poster for the Theatre Royal's production of Dracula. See all details below. Good luck! pic.twitter.com/FfNZFtmB5v— Thames Valley Learning Partnership () September 11, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Sep 4
Thanks, Andy Sammons , for helping our teachers inspire expert-level reading, thinking and writing across all subjects. The impact is clear: we have seen up to 26% improvement in student vocabulary since adopting Bedrock. pic.twitter.com/Z9moxUWbsU— The Arbib Education Trust () September 4, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Sep 3
Huge congratulations to our amazing Year 11s and Year 13s on their impressive G.C.S.E and A-level results! Each result reflects your incredible talents, hard work, and boundless potential. We’re so proud of all you've achieved and excited for your bright futures! Keep shining! pic.twitter.com/dfUBW8JZaE— The Arbib Education Trust () September 3, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 19
What a week! 👏Well done to all our students for raising over £1200 for Great Ormond Street Hospital 👏 https://t.co/K5riIYbz3a— The Langley Academy () July 19, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 19
Looking for a book to read this summer?🎉 Our book is out! 🎉 "Langley’s Adventurous Academy" features short stories written by our Langley Academy pupils. Get your copy on Amazon for just £4.99! 📚👉 Buy now https://t.co/f0xwFdf4oEThanks for all your help pic.twitter.com/ZtC3cMsCpK— The Langley Academy () July 19, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 19
Here's the last newsletter of this academic year:- https://t.co/2VQULRNWbWHave a safe and happy summer🌞— The Langley Academy () July 19, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 19
Congratulations to our talented TLA students at Langley’s Got Talent! Your amazing performances had the whole audience on its feet. From guitarists and soloists to dancers, you all shined! 🌟👏 pic.twitter.com/0HkUB5V5Lg— The Arbib Education Trust () July 17, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 17
🎉 Well done to all our rowers! What an end to the season at Kingston Regatta: 5 crews in the quarters, 2 in the semis, and 4 race wins (3 Women’s J13 doubles, 1 Men’s J14 doubles). Amazing effort! 🚣‍♀️🏆 pic.twitter.com/iG26Awutnf— The Arbib Education Trust () July 16, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 15
Curious about the history of medicine? The , Europe's oldest surviving surgical theatre for female patients! We discovered how operations were done before anaesthetics, why speed was crucial, and the dangers of early chloroform. pic.twitter.com/VCz2QruJIJ— The Arbib Education Trust () July 15, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 11
Which topic resonated most with you? From embracing discomfort and tackling Black hair struggles to exploring music and South Asian cultures, our speakers brought confidence and insight! pic.twitter.com/JXeNHD1k59— The Arbib Education Trust () July 11, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 10
Book Launch📚 Today, our students are launching their very own book with the help of our resident author . Our marketing and sales teams are now starting their campaign to get our book into as many hands as possible. Ready to dive in? pic.twitter.com/VzAaJUBb4K— The Arbib Education Trust () July 9, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 5
Thank you for inspiring our students to pursue passions, stay curious, be resilient, stand out, and keep options open! part of the https://t.co/MEMxqQvrSS— The Arbib Education Trust () July 5, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 4
This week we welcomed our future Yr7s from 24 schools! Meeting new classmates, exploring their house team, and discovering the school? Highlights included a mini Olympics and fun Maths & English sessions! Looking forward to seeing you at summer school in August. pic.twitter.com/OuP72bsIlM— The Arbib Education Trust () July 4, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 3
Ensuring young voices are heard! , a key British value, works best when everyone contributes. We’ve explored the impact of voting and living with OUR choices. Meet our Year 12 candidates as they campaign and learn the importance of every vote. pic.twitter.com/vHuqhMv8xy— The Arbib Education Trust () July 3, 2024
@LangleyAcademy - Jul 3
🌊 Year 12 students had an amazing fieldwork trip! They investigated how physical and human processes shape coastal morphology along Mudford Spit, Hengistbury Head, and three beaches down to Boscombe. 🏖️📚 pic.twitter.com/sVNPo01zS2— The Arbib Education Trust () July 3, 2024
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