Fairwater Community Campus Marks A New Chapter With Time Capsule Burial

On Monday 1^st December, BESL/CMB Engineering welcomed partners, stakeholders, teachers, pupils, and special guests to the main entrance, atrium and hall of the Fairwater Community Campus construction site to celebrate a significant moment in the journey of this ambitious project.

As Principal Contractor on this multi-million pound development, we were proud to host this milestone event, marking both the progress made on site and the legacy we hope to build for the young people and community of Fairwater and the surrounding areas.

Despite the weather being cold, the atmosphere was warm and full of anticipation, bringing together Cardiff Council cabinet members, local Councillors, Welsh Government, the project supply chain, as well as schoolteachers, governors and students from Cantonian High School, Riverbank School, Woodlands School and the three cluster primary schools: Pentrebane, Peter Lea and Fairwater Primary.

We opened the ceremony with speeches from Angela Withey (Capital Projects Delivery Manager – Education, Cardiff Council), Gavin Waters (BESL Project Leader), and Steve Borley (BESL and CMB Engineering Group Managing Director), discussing the progress of the build and how it was rescued following ISG’s collapse in November 2024. Their remarks reflected the hard work already invested in the campus and the collaborative approach between all project partners, from the design and delivery teams to the school community itself.

Leader of Cardiff Council, Huw Thomas, also delivered a speech on behalf of the Council, saying:

“I was very happy to join Cantonian High School as well as Riverbank and Woodlands Schools, that are part of the Western Learning Federation, for this special burial of their time capsule. This burial marks a new chapter that we are celebrating in the history of these three schools, as well as the Cantonian cluster primary schools.

I was last at the campus in September following the handover of the Health & Wellbeing Block and it’s amazing to see in that short space of time, the progress that has been made.

Fairwater Community Campus is the single largest and most ambitious education development that we as a Council have ever undertaken – a net-zero campus accommodating over 1800 students. It’s also one of the most advanced educational institutions in the UK, providing state-of-the-art facilities that are designed to meet a diverse range of learning needs whilst allowing each school on the campus to maintain its unique identity. By bringing these three schools together, we are hoping to create a modern educational hub which will ensure the children receive the highest quality of educational and development skills that they will need to thrive. This is also a significant investment in the Fairwater community itself, who will be able to benefit from the facilities outside of school hours.

I want to pay tribute to the Council Officers who pushed for a solution after the ISG administration, as well as BESL and all of your subcontractors – I am so proud of the way they have been able to keep the supply chain in place without job losses. The quality of the build speaks for itself, so my thanks go to Steve Borley and the entire team for being prepared to work with the Council on this journey.”

The beating heart of the event, however, came from the children. Pupils from across the Fairwater cluster of schools — Cantonian High, Riverbank, Woodlands, Peter Lea, Pentrebane and Fairwater Primary — contributed heartfelt performances showcasing poetry, music and storytelling. Their voices filled the hall, reflecting the diversity, creativity, and optimism of the younger generation. From songs and poems to spoken-word reflections, each performance captured a unique perspective on school life, community identity, and what the future might hold.

Following this, the time capsule itself was lowered into the grounds of the Fairwater Community Campus, and was then buried by attendees, including the MS for Cardiff West and former First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, retired Wales and Cardiff City FC footballer (and former student of both Fairwater Primary and Cantonian High School), Joe Ledley, Cardiff Council Leader, Huw Thomas and Cardiff Council Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Education, Sarah Merry.

The contents of the capsule were chosen and prepared by the children, their schools, and the BESL team, and included:

• Fairwater Primary: “Day in the Life” stories, artworks, and a USB video documenting everyday school experience.

• Peter Lea Primary: Included a poem they had written as well as a USB video from the students talking about their current school, how they feel about it, what their most enjoyable parts of school life are.

• Pentrebane Primary: Letters to their future selves, reflections on their current school experience, a school logo, and a symbolic face mask — a reminder of the children’s resilience and the era they are growing up in.

• Cantonian High School: Artwork illustrating both the existing new build as well as what their ideal school would look like.

• Western Learning Federation: Artwork including handprints from every pupil and class, photographs of the current site, school uniform, letters to their future selves, and further creative pieces.

• Cardiff City FC shirt, signed on the day by Joe Ledley, Mark Drakeford, Huw Thomas and Sarah Merry.

Photos from the day were also added to the capsule, ensuring that future generations (perhaps decades from now) will be able to look back and see how the community was brought together for this special occasion, how the campus came to be, and what life was like at the moment of its creation.

To conclude the celebration, the hall filled with festive Christmas carols from all in attendance. This seasonal finale perfectly captured the spirit of collaboration and togetherness that defines Fairwater Community Campus.

Cardiff Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said:

“Fairwater Community Campus will transform education provision in Cardiff, especially for learners with additional needs. It supports the Curriculum for Wales whilst expanding capacity for both mainstream and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) pupils, offering modern learning environments, sports facilities, and community spaces.

“Reaching this stage in the development is a testament to what can be achieved and by uniting pupils, staff, and families from the local community and across Cardiff, we are building a truly inclusive community where everyone belongs.

“The time capsule has provided an opportunity to reflect on the past achievements of each school and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Fairwater Community Campus.”

Bertie Borley, BESL Operations Director, commented:

“The time-capsule event celebrated the children at the heart of our community, uniting teachers, pupils, councillors, MPs, cabinet members, contractors, and a former CCFC footballer to share in their songs, poems, and the excitement of burying the capsule.”

Sarah Burge, BESL Social Value Manager, added:

“It was a genuine pleasure to work with pupils from across all our schools as we prepared items for the time capsule. Listening to their ideas, watching their creativity unfold through poetry, stories, artwork and video, and seeing their pride as they performed in the new Cantonian High School hall was incredibly special. Moments like these remind me why our work matters; bringing young people together, celebrating their talents, and building a shared sense of community that truly reflects the spirit of Fairwater Community Campus.”

As the campus continues to take shape, we remain committed to delivering a site that is not only safe, accessible, and modern, but also meaningful to those who will use it. The time capsule is a physical reminder that this project is about far more than construction. It is about aspiration, opportunity, and building a place where every child feels seen, inspired, and able to thrive.

We extend our thanks to the school communities, Cardiff Council, Welsh Government, and our supply chain, who played a role in making the day a success, as well as a special thank you to Joe Ledley whose attendance further highlighted the importance of this milestone.

As we now surpass the one-year mark of BESL working as Principal Contractor on this major project, we look forward to what will be the biggest milestone yet – the handover of the Cantonian High School building later this month.