Time capsule for 20th anniversary of Wendron School Cornwall

Wendron School near Helston was marking 20 years since it moved to its current site, and the school was joined by past pupils, staff and parents for a special event.

After three songs from the school choir, headteacher Matt Oakley explained the importance of the occasion, which marks two decades since the school moved from the building across the road onto a purpose-built site – complete with its own grounds that are the envy of other schools around.

Headteacher Matt Oakley helps youngest pupil in the school Maya bury a time capsule (Image: Emma Ferguson)

He said during that time there had been four headteachers: Lesley Pitchford, who had been the headteacher at the time of the move – after the project was first set into motion by her predecessor Tony Rule – followed by Richard Lawrence, then Paul Hunkin and finally himself, which tied in with the school becoming part of a new multi-academy trust Kernow Learning.

Staff had worked out that during the last 20 years there had been roughly 404 pupils pass through its classrooms.

Pupils at the celebration (Image: Alicia Combe)

The youngest pupil in the school currently, Maya, was chosen to help bury a time capsule in the school wall, which contained a poem written by each class, as well as a newspaper article about the school and some facts about 2023 – including that a pint of milk was 90p, a loaf of bread was £1.40, the most popular baby names for boys and girls (Noah and Olivia), and the number one song in the singles chart on that day (Sprinter, by Dave and Central Cee).

This was followed by a fun afternoon with bouncy castles, games, popcorn and candy floss to mark the special anniversary. 

Tamsin and Rebecca dish out candy floss to pupils (Image: Emma Ferguson)

Local emergency services also came into the school to let pupils sit in their vehicles and try out the sirens, including a fire engine from Heston Fire Station and two police cars.

There was an exhibition of old photographs from school productions and other events, giving past staff the chance to reminisce.

Children got to sit in police cars and a fire engine (Image: Alicia Combe)

MPC Dan Roberts shows off an undercover police car to two pupils (Image: Emma Ferguson)

Among those returning were former teaching assistants Pauline Hewish, Kathryn Jenkin and Shirley Wearne, and lunchtime supervisor Miriam Wearne.

Assistant headteacher Chris Roberts has taught at the school for 22 years and remembers the move across to the new building.

She said: “It was really exciting. We used to come across periodically at the foundations, and then as it grew we got to choose everything we wanted, from the colour of the walls to the carpets.

“We then closed for a week so we could move everything over.”

Former teaching assistants Pauline Hewish, Kathryn Jenkin and Shirley Wearne returned for the occasion (Image: Emma Ferguson)

She added how nice it was to see past staff and pupils coming back into the school, including one who was in the first set of classes to move to the new site, who had now returned with her own child.

Also attending the anniversary celebration was Ray Spencer, who was a governor for around 20 years and chair at the time of the move.

He remembers the governors putting pressure on the local authority to secure the new grounds, with support from the Diocesan Board of Education, which he said “put everything in to get it.”

Lucy mans the cake stall, which also featured two anniversary cakes (Image: Emma Ferguson)

There was face painting and glitter art amongst the activities (Image: Alicia Combe)

Current headteacher Matt Oakley said that although he had only been at the school for a short time, he felt it was important to celebrate its successes over the past 20 years.

He said: “There’s been a lot of change recently. It’s always been a successful school. We’ve had some difficult times recently but we have come through those times, and we need to celebrate.

“We’re part of a new family of schools with Kernow Learning and we just want to celebrate this new energy, and celebrate what a beautiful school it is, in a beautiful setting, with lovely children.”

The event included a presentation of a cheque for £336.29 made up of donations by local businesses, collected by Andrea from Usborne Books.

Andrea from Usborne Books and chartered surveyor Tim present a cheque of donations from local businesses to headteacher Matt Oakley (Image: Emma Ferguson)