PUPILS at a York secondary school have been back to the future for their latest venture.

Students and teachers at Manor CE School in Millfield Lane, York, have buried a time capsule beneath their recently-built new school.

The pupils, who will be celebrating the opening of their new school building in the New Year, wanted to give students of the future an idea of what life in 2008 was like.

With the help of the Wates Construction team who built the school, the Year Six pupils and head teacher, Brian Crosby, buried the capsule, which contained modern-day memorabilia.

The contents included photos, a diary, a USB drive with a presentation put together by the students and a collage of information about the recent US presidential election. Wates Construction also unveiled a plaque with a commemorative brickwork panel that four students from the school helped to build, following a competition at a brickwork masterclass, held by the team from Wates Construction.

Mr Crosby, said: “This is a very special moment in the history of Manor School. We wanted to let future generations know what the concerns and dreams were of young people in 2008 as they enter their new build.”

Community groups are being urged to come forward and sign up to use the facilities at the new £18 million school.

Pupils and staff are preparing to move to the new building in April next year and the school wants local groups to contact them to sign up to make use of what is available for hire.

The new school has a full-size floodlit, all-weather sports pitch, a 400-seater auditorium, tennis and netball courts and a four badminton court sports hall.

There is also a performing arts suite and facilities available for conferences, meetings and catering.

Office manager Rachel Snowden said although the school was not opening until April, there has already been a good deal of interest from community groups keen to take advantage of the new facilities.

The new school has benefited from £13.6 million of Government cash, with the sale of the current school site in Low Poppleton Lane making up the remaining £4 million for the new school.