A TIME capsule at the site of a new school in Tameside has preserved childhood memories and artefacts.
The items created by pupils from Hawthorns Primary School were placed into the steel time capsule during an assembly before the summer holidays.
The school council then visited the site of their new school in Mottram to watch the time capsule being lowered into the ground.
It contains messages about their favourite memories of school over the years and their hopes and dreams for the future, alongside trinkets and craft items that they’ve made. A plaque marks the spot where the capsule is buried.
The £21 million development – commissioned by Tameside Council and built by Robertson Construction North West – is on course to open for the start of the new academic year in September.
Managed by New Bridge Academy Trust, the new school will provide 246 places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Hawthorns Primary had outgrown its capacity at its current site within Aldwyn Primary School in Audenshaw, having originally been designed to accommodate 60 pupils.
Councillor Bill Fairfoull, Tameside Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children and Families, said: “It’s a lovely idea for the children to preserve the artefacts they’ve made, alongside their memories and hopes, for future generations to find, learn from and enjoy.
“The new school is about creating the ideal environment where children with SEND can learn, develop and be happy and we all share in the vision of what it will achieve in the future. I can’t wait for pupils to be able to make the most of the superb facilities when the new school year starts.”
A spokesperson for Hawthorns School’s Senior Leadership Team added: “Hawthorns has a long history of supporting children and families from its establishment in 1958 on Corporation Road in Audenshaw, to the new school site, which will enable us to provide more children than ever with a wealth of educational learning experiences within a purpose built environment.”