An innovative eco-friendly school built on stilts, is celebrating the completion of building work next week with a time capsule burial.

The £9m Irk Valley Community school on Waterloo Road in Lower Crumpsall, will open later this month and replace the existing St Thomas school on the opposite side of the road.

An unusual feature of the new school is that it is built on stilts to minimise the one in 100 year risk of flooding. The stilts range in height from 60cm at the front to 1.5m at the back with a series of raised platforms leading to a walkway that will allow pupils to evacuate the school in the event of a flash flood.

St Thomas school was built in 1850 at a cost of £1,675 and was called Lower Crumpsall National School. The land was provided by Edward Lloyd, one of the founders of Lloyds Bank.

Carved stone lettering from the existing building has been retained and incorporated in the new school grounds.

The time capsule will contain copies of the original purchase papers for the school, a history of those involved in the school in the 1800s, including the Lloyd family, designs of the new school and examples of what school life is like for current pupils along with photos.

A plaque on the site of the burial will request that it is opened in 100 years time.

The new school is a two-form entry, modern, purpose built eco-friendly school and nursery that has been designed with a commitment to the environment. It will accommodate 420 children and a 60-place nursery.

And work has been ongoing with both the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and the Irk Valley Project to develop an environmental resource centre at the school and maximise the benefit of its close location to the River Irk.

To control the collection of rainwater from the school’s drains and gutters, an attenuation pond has been created that releases the overflow water into the river. This pond will form an ecological habitat area and will be used as a teaching aid by the school.

Crumpsall Councillor Jon-Leigh Pritchard said: “This marks another milestone in the regeneration of Crumpsall and Blackley Village. The school promises to be an innovative, modern, learning environment and something that the whole community can be both proud of and benefit from.”