Students at newly-opened Pudsey Sixth Form bury time capsule to mark their first term

Pudsey Sixth Form College, the town’s first dedicated sixth form, opened in September thanks to a partnership led by Leeds Sixth Form College and local secondary schools.

Since then its first students have been taking full advantage of the purpose-built facilities and applying themselves to their courses - while also preparing the contents for a time capsule to celebrate the college’s beginnings.

Learners have shared their life and work ambitions, plus references to the year’s biggest movies and songs, for future generations to find when the capsule is finally re-opened.

Principal Dr Phil Mark, who joined several students to bury the capsule, said: “We have enjoyed a wonderful, and very productive, first term and it has been a pleasure to welcome and start teaching students from both our three partner schools in Pudsey and many others across the region.

“The sixth form is only in its infancy but we have already started forging a strong ethos based around setting high goals, inclusivity and kindness - and forming meaningful links with the wider community. This time capsule is a fun way of capturing this key moment in Pudsey’s timeline to give future generations a little taste of what life, and education, was like in 2025.

“Our students have done a wonderful job of sharing their thoughts, and collecting details on the major cultural highlights of the year, to include. It will be fascinating to see how these are received when the capsule is opened up, some 25 years from now.”

Officially opened by the Chancellor, Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves in November, the sixth form has been designed to plug a gap in the local provision of A levels, T Levels and other post-16 qualifications.

Its development, which cost £14m in total, was backed by a £12.7m capital loan from the Department for Education (DfE).