PUPILS at a Forest school planted trees and buried a time capsule as work on a 21st century building nears completion.

The £6 million replacement for St White’s Primary School in Cinderford is due to be finished this month.

Children will move across to the new building in Buckshaft Road once it has been kitted out.

That is due to take place after schools return following the February half-term on Monday, February 22.

The time capsule contains memories of the last year in the old school and will remain sealed for 25 years.

Teresa Cross, headteacher at St White’s, said: “As we are moving forward into the future and leaving behind a valuable part of Cinderford’s history, we felt it only right and proper that we mark this occasion with a time  capsule full of memories from 2015. 

“In 2041, the school  and local  community will be able to open the time capsule and  celebrate the  memories of the last few months in the old school.

“The trees are a representation of a new beginning.

“The children and whole school community will have the pleasure of  watching  them flourish together with the  children of St White’s School.”

The school was awarded the £6m grant by Gloucestershire County Council back in March 2013 and the work for the new school is being completed by Gloucester-based building company E G Carter.

Earlier this year the company ran a competition looking for ideas for items that could be included in the capsule with the best being selected.

“It has been a pleasure for E G Carter to have been a part of this exciting new school build which is nearing completion, and it’s great to involve the children in planting new trees in the scheme.”

The county council’s Cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Paul McLain (Con, Battledown and Charlton Kings), added: “What an exciting time for pupils and staff at St White’s.

“I hope that they enjoy their new school and can leave some fantastic memories for people in the future in their time capsule.”

The ceremony came as St White’s was celebrating a very positive report from school inspectors at the schools standards agency Ofsted which took it out of special measures.