HISTORICAL artefacts donated by pupils are the latest addition to a project to create Britain's first museum inside a school.

Since May 2015, the Rumble Museum has displayed a range of items in the corridors throughout Cheney School in Headington with the aim of inspiring youngsters to explore history.

Now it has embarked on its latest project - the Living Museum, which is made up of items donated by students.

Museum founder and director Dr Lorna Robinson said it would bring a new dynamic to the project.

She said: "The idea is for students to create their own museum displays to explore their own lives, whether they have got a grandfather who fought in the war or an artefact with a meaning attached to it.

"We will film little videos and write captions so that people can explore these objects.

"At the end of term they will be handed back to students and we will bring in a fresh set.

"The idea is for students and everyone else to think about themselves and their own lives."

The Rumble Museum, a series of historic collections around the school, is working towards museum accreditation through the Arts Council Scheme and houses about 250 objects including an Athenian coin from the 5th century BC, stone age tools, pottery, Roman glass, a Second World War gas mask and a Roman oil lamp.

As well as being available for pupils at Cheney to view every day it is also opened up to primary school groups and Headington residents.

Dr Robinson said: "We want the objects to become part of the school environment.

"It really is across the whole school. We have been working very hard on that.

"When primary school children come in they get to handle a First World War shell and try on a Greek Corinthian helmet."

Dr Robinson is currently working to develop a central museum space and themed display areas in the school's library.

This will act as a central base for the museum and connect to the various department rooms and collections which are growing.

The museum takes its name from Jamie Rumble, who devoted his life to improving the lives of young people.

Dr Robinson said: "Our sponsor wants to remain anonymous but she wanted to sponsor it in the name of her late partner Jamie Rumble, who spent a lot of time working with young people, and particularly with disadvantaged young people.

"The idea of the museum is to being objects to everyone and it felt very fitting to her to name it after him."