Students and staff have buried a time capsule to commemorate the completion of a multi-million pound refurbishment to their academy.

The ceremony at Knole Academy in Sevenoaks was held as Wilmott Dixon, responsible for the build of a large extension celebrated handing over the building after completing all elements of the project.

Items buried in the capsule at the site of the £16.8m new build included a whole school photograph, a prospectus, a school tie and badge.

The Principal, Mary Boyle and Willmott Dixon’s senior building manager, Ben Harvey as well as ambassador students and members of the school council attended the event to mark the construction milestone.

Willmott Dixon commenced the building of the project during March2013 although planning and design began 18 months earlier.

The building comprises of three storeys and existing buildings have also been refurbished.

They now include a high specification outdoor climbing wall, conference and performance space that can seat up to 300, a recording studio, a sixth form centre for up to 350 students, a business, economics and ICT area and a new graphics and art suite.

An all-weather pitch with the capacity to hold three five-a-side football courts has already opened.

Once the new building is fully open in September, the academy will have the capacity to take 1550 students and due to its popularity is taking an additional form of entry in year 7, most of whom will be in the grammar stream.

Ambassadors Abigale, Georgia, Sammy and Harrison, who helped to select the items to go in the time capsule, wanted to put in things that would show what life at Knole was like.

“We are delighted to have worked to provide these state-of-the-art facilities to the students and teaching staff" - John Waterman

Abigale said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the new art rooms with the beautiful view of the North Downs.”

Georgia added: “I think the new science block is going to help me be successful in my GCSEs and I am looking forward to all the experiments that I will perform in it over the next few years."

Willmott Dixon’s local managing director, John Waterman, said: “We are delighted to have worked to provide these state-of-the-art facilities to the students and teaching staff.

“Burying the time capsule was a suitable way to commemorate the near completion of the building and we are pleased that everyone will be able to enjoy the new facilities from September.”

Willmott Dixon Construction delivers award-winning projects across the education, health, leisure, workplace and retail sectors.