A WGC school marking its 70th anniversary this year has already laid the foundations for its centenary celebrations.

Pupils at Stanborough School were joined by MP Grant Shapps as they buried a time capsule, last Friday.

The capsule, containing documents and artefacts representing what the school is like now, will be dug up and opened at the school’s 100th anniversary in 30 years’ time.

Pupil Chris Gray said: “We put lots of information about Stanborough School and what it is like to be a student in 2010.”

Rhys Harniess said: “We did an electronic tour of the school to give future students the idea of what the school was like 30 years ago.”

Casey Burton added: “I would really like to come back to Stanborough in 30 years’ time to dig up the time capsule and speak to students about school life in 2010.”

Mr Shapps also formally opened the new Stanborough70 Quad – a covered shelter for students to use at break and lunchtime.

The quad can also be used for small-scale outdoor musical and dramatic performances.

Students raised more than �6,000 for its refurbishment through sponsorship of their annual Run 4 Stanborough event, while Henkel UK, which has a base in Hatfield, provided a community support grant of €4,626, for the build and a computerised weather station at the school.

The event was also an opportunity to award prizes from the Stanborough70 balloon launch, which took place at an open day for past pupils, in June.

The furthest balloon reached Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk, and the balloon’s owner, Debbie Squire, was awarded �100. The �50 second prize went to Aimee Williams.

The day brought an end to the year-long celebrations marking the anniversary of the Lemsford Lane school, which opened in September 1939 as WGC Grammar School.