Primary school pupils create time-capsule roof

Pupils were given the chance to make their mark on their school’s roof replacement project by decorating their own tiles.

Children from Alfred Sutton Primary School have added to the school’s 123-year history by creating a time capsule roof.

The project is part of the Council’s ongoing programme of works to upgrade some of Reading’s older Victorian school buildings.

The work at Alfred Sutton school, in Wokingham Road, east Reading, started in March 2025 and involves the full replacement of the roof of the junior building.

It will include the addition of further insulation to help reduce heat loss and save the school money on its energy bills. Windows, doors and guttering will also be replaced.

The school building is a local non-designated heritage asset and the original ridge tiles, which are unique to the local area, will be retained. Any tiles which are in good condition will be reclaimed and reused for smaller re-roofing projects, while those in poor condition will be recycled into hardcore for roads.

Members of the project team, which includes HP Contracts Ltd, have delivered assemblies about the project to pupils and introduced children to what happens on a live building site and how to stay safe.

The project is due to be complete by early next year and the building team is ensuring there is as little disruption to the school as possible as it remains open throughout.

Every child and teacher were invited to decorate and sign the back of their own roof tile which will be placed alongside the other 65,000 tiles expected to be used in the works.

Designs included pictures of children’s hobbies, pets and computer game characters, while others wrote to future pupils asking questions, such as whether they have flying cars or if people now lived on Mars.

Robert Howell, Executive Head of Alfred Sutton Primary School, said:

“The children have loved being part of a live time capsule event where their pictures and messages will be part of the roof and revealed in possibly 100-years-time when they need replacing again. It means their names will forever be enshrined in the history of Alfred Sutton which is a lovely thing.

“This project is huge for the school. Unfortunately, the main hall which the roof covers is subject to some leakage, and we have a lovely floor underneath which has suffered some water damage. This work will bring a new life to the hall and allow us to use it in a much more flexible way.

“The builders have worked well with the school to make everything happen as seamlessly as possible. The whole school community has been very much engaged with the planning of moving from one classroom to another to accommodate the works which has been really good.

“With a Victorian building there is a constant maintenance schedule. The fact the roof is going to be insulated will have a huge impact on our energy bills and this will be brilliant at ensuring more money is channelled directly to the children’s interests.”

Cllr Rachel Eden, Lead Councillor for Education and Public Health, said:

"The replacement of the building roof at Alfred Sutton Primary School is a major project which is vital for the school and its pupils.

“I would like to congratulate the school and project team for working so well together to ensure the children continue their education and to enable the children to take part in the amazing time-capsule roof activity, as well as learn important lessons about construction sites and keeping safe.

“Reading is lucky that our heritage includes several Victorian school buildings but it does mean the council needs to keep up a programme of improvements.  The council is committed to invest in those older buildings which are showing signs of deterioration and to ensuring the government’s investment programmes for education benefits Reading.”

The Alfred Sutton roof replacement is part of Reading’s School Fabric Condition Programme funded by the Department for Education Schools Condition Grant.

As part of the programme, the Council replaced the pitched roofs at Oxford Road Community School and Park Lane Primary School in 2023, followed by the flat roofs at Park Lane primary and Caversham Primary School in 2024.

The windows at Park Lane primary are being replaced this year and works will start to replace the pitched roofs across three buildings at Wilson Primary later this year.