A school's centenary celebration was marked today by looking towards the future, with a new building, a new tree and a time capsule.

Northwood Prep celebrates its 100th birthday today, and has opened of a new centenary building at its Moor Park site.

A time capsule containing about 30 different items relating to the school, ranging from photos and school menus through to a set of coins and memorabilia from the recent football World Cup was buried.

Finally an oak tree was planted by the school's oldest boy Rafi Kellion and youngest boy Ben Wilkinson.

Dr Trevor Lee, headmaster, said: “Today is not only about marking the school’s long history and looking forward to the future.

“The school has a great past and a secure future. I’m sure that in another 100 years’ time, the then headmaster will share my confidence and excitement about the school’s future.”

“I would be interested to see if the people who dig the capsule up have got the technology to read some of the things we put in there as they're on CD and DVD.”

History was the order of the day for the school, which was once the home of Cardinal Wolsey's principal palace, the site of a peace treaty between England and France in 1525, and the home of Catherine of Aragon in 1531.

The new building was opened by John Rimer, a former pupil and Governor who has a lifelong association with the school.

Mr Rimer said: “I was greatly honoured to be asked to do this. I'm an old boy, I came to the school in 1946 on the original site.

“We had a very interesting tour of the new classrooms and their interactive whiteboards, it does contrast with the Victorian desks and discipline structure that we had.”

The school’s 340 boys, their parents, staff and friends attended the celebrations today, and a wreath was laid at the graveside of Francis Terry, who founded the school in 1910.

A painting was commissioned from leading artist, Ivel Muller, a bright, colourful, five foot montage of the different aspects of the school’s life over the past 100 years.

Dr Lee added: “We started off in the church and that celebratory tone has flowed through the day.

"This is an opportunity for everyone here to take pride in the achievements of all the boys, whether they’re here now, they left last year or 50 years ago”.