Children at West Haddon Primary School have been busy preparing to bury a time capsule to mark the 200th anniversary since the building opened with every class – from nursery to Year 6 – involved.
Pupils have written down some key facts about each class including how many girls and boys there are and teacher names, alongside all the things they love about school as well as the favourite things they’ve done this year.
‘What we think school will be like in the future’ included ideas such as robotic teachers, schools on the moon, a slide for the fixed play area and air conditioning in classrooms.
The school council, which is made up of a mix of year groups, have been leading the project and spoke with fellow classmates about the capsule during assembly.
Explaining why they were burying the time capsule, a school council spokesperson said: “It’s so children of the future can see what life is like now."
West Haddon primary has spent the last year celebrating its 200th anniversary with a variety of activities including everyone dressing up in Georgian/Victorian school costumes to commemorate the significant milestone.
A photo of this will also be included in the time capsule, along with several other commemorative items.
The council plan to bury the time capsule in the newly constructed peace garden with a possible ‘X marks the spot’ style clue for future generations to come.
Mrs Brinklow, deputy headteacher, said: “I’m so proud of the children. They’ve organised it all and they’ve really taken the initiative themselves.”
A commemorative tea towel is also being designed for the 200th anniversary with a picture of every single child’s face on it which they’ve individually drawn.
West Haddon Public Elementary School, originally for children aged 3 to 14 years, was built in 1825 and endowed by John Heygate with a house and garden for the Master and Mistress, two adjoining cottages and the sum of £1,000 vested in trustees.
When the school opened it consisted of just two rooms, one for boys, one for girls, was heated by open fires and had outside toilets.