Banburyshire school buries time capsule to mark 40th anniversary

A Banburyshire school has buried a time capsule to mark its 40th anniversary.
Harriet Sleem, sixth form ambassador, burying the time capsule at Chenderit School on Wednesday July 8 to mark the school's 40th anniversaryHarriet Sleem, sixth form ambassador, burying the time capsule at Chenderit School on Wednesday July 8 to mark the school's 40th anniversary
Harriet Sleem, sixth form ambassador, burying the time capsule at Chenderit School on Wednesday July 8 to mark the school's 40th anniversary

Students and staff at Chenderit School buried a time capsule onsite yesterday (Wednesday July 8,) leaving a gift for future generations to unearth and open.

The capsule, which is to be opened in 40 years, has been filled by students and staff and is packed with newsletters, photographs of the school, letters, students’ work, a canteen menu, a uniform and a copy of the original school values.

The hope is that it will provide future generations with the opportunity to see what student life is like today. A Covid -19 timeline has been included too, recording how different their 40th year has been.

The burial of the time capsule was attended by current students, long standing staff members and the current leadership team, who gathered in the school’s memorial garden, to bury the capsule laden with memorabilia of the school’s rich 40 years’ history.

Jane Cartwright, headteacher at Chenderit School, said: “It has been wonderful to see those students who have been in school for the past few months inspired by the concept of us burying a time capsule and to hear them decide what we should include for future generations.

"In September 2059, 80 years after the school’s opening, I hope this historic cache of information and artefacts will tell the story of the successful school that Chenderit was over the first 40 years of its history.”

Mark Woodcock, assistant headteacher, added: “To have been involved with and contributed towards some of the past 40 years at Chenderit has been an absolute pleasure and honour.

Chenderit School students: Oliver Robertson, Mayah Mohammed, Charlie Willis and Harriet Sleem stand near the time capsule buried to mark the school's 40th anniversaryChenderit School students: Oliver Robertson, Mayah Mohammed, Charlie Willis and Harriet Sleem stand near the time capsule buried to mark the school's 40th anniversary
Chenderit School students: Oliver Robertson, Mayah Mohammed, Charlie Willis and Harriet Sleem stand near the time capsule buried to mark the school's 40th anniversary

"I hope that the contents of the time capsule will give an insight into life at Chenderit over the last 40 years and record some of the highlights and changes as they took place as our school developed.

"We all wonder what Chenderit will be like in September 2059 – lets hope the staff and students then are able to record then next 40 years as we have done with the past 40 years”

Mr Phil Marchington, a science teacher retiring in July 2020 after teaching at Chenderit since January 1986, said: “When we started 40 years ago our main teaching aid was the dusty chalkboard and much of our reproduction was carbon copy paper or methylated spirit smelling Bandas- as it happened in purple.

"Very rapidly we progressed from the overhead projector to white board to laptop projection and now online teaching and google meets. Who knows what a school will look like in 40 years time?

The plaque engraved by Assistant Headteacher Mr Woodcock for the time capsule buried at Chenderit SchoolThe plaque engraved by Assistant Headteacher Mr Woodcock for the time capsule buried at Chenderit School
The plaque engraved by Assistant Headteacher Mr Woodcock for the time capsule buried at Chenderit School

"But above all a school is not its teaching resources it is the people in it and they can never be replaced.”

Sixth form ambassadors Harriet Sleem and Charlie Willis were in attendance and helped to bury the capsule.

Charlie paid homage to Mr Marchington and said: “It’s fantastic to see Mr Marchington reflect on school life as he starts his retirement.”

And Harriet said “It was very nice to be involved in Chenderit history.”

Charlie Willis, sixth form ambassador, burying the time capsule at Chenderit SchoolCharlie Willis, sixth form ambassador, burying the time capsule at Chenderit School
Charlie Willis, sixth form ambassador, burying the time capsule at Chenderit School

Maisy Connelly, at the beginning of her Chenderit journey as a year seven student said: “I’m pleased to have taken part and to think about the school in the future.”

Oliver Robertson, a year nine student was “delighted to be remembering Chenderit’s history.”

Many of the school’s anniversary celebrations over the last nine months have been about looking back at the impressive history of the school.

This event, however, focused on the new generation of students who will lead the school into its next 40 years – a time that promises to be very exciting, with the school’s new maths teaching block opening in September 2020, an increasing range of opportunities for students.

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Mr Phil Marchington, retiring after joining Chenderit School in 1986Mr Phil Marchington, retiring after joining Chenderit School in 1986
Mr Phil Marchington, retiring after joining Chenderit School in 1986

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