Past Meets Future: The Royal Harbour Academy Commemorates Battle of Britain with Time Capsule

To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, students at The Royal

Harbour Academy were invited down to Barratt David Wilson Homes’ Spitfire Green

development in Ramsgate to bury a time capsule on 11th July 2025.

The Battle of Britain was a major air campaign fought over southern England in the

summer and autumn of 1940. After the evacuation from Dunkirk and the Fall of

France, Germany planned to gain air supremacy in preparation for an invasion of

Great Britain.

To mark the anniversary students from The Royal Harbour Academy’s Year 9 history

class were tasked with creating artwork and writing letters about how life has

changed over the last 85 years and the impact the battle had on Britain and in

Ramsgate. The students then joined the housebuilder at Spitfire Green, which takes

its name from the town’s rich RAF history, to bury the objects in a time capsule. The

event took place in front of the striking spitfire sculpture onsite, which stands at two

metres high with a six foot wingspan.

Richard Joyner, a history teacher at The Royal Harbour Academy, commented:

“Learning about Britain’s history helps students understand the events that have

shaped the country they live in today. By exploring moments like the Battle of Britain

allows students to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the resilience of

those who came before them.

“It was fantastic to have Barratt David Wilson Homes reach out to us to see if this

project would fit our curriculum. At Royal Harbour Academy we value activities like

this to not only bring history to life but also allow our students a chance to reflect on

past events and connect the classroom to the real world. All the students enjoyed

putting their creative skills to the test with a history spin!”

Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, added:

“Time capsules are a great way to connect the local community to previous events,

allowing the opportunity to reflect on experiences and feelings. We are pleased to

have welcomed history students from The Royal Harbour Academy to our Spitfire Green

development, which boasts an array of history close by such as the RAF Manston

History Museum. It is vital that we celebrate key moments like the Battle of Britain’s

85th anniversary to ensure younger generations can learn and understand the impact

it has had on life today.”