Education

Learning in the landscape

Coquetdale’s small schools have always offered a good education, but it hasn’t always been easy for the children to get to them.

Many faced a long walk over the hills every day, or a lift if they were lucky. These journeys were especially tough in the winter.

Today’s older children have to travel to Morpeth to the nearest high schools. That’s more than an hour each way by car or bus.

‘Two children are away with colds, two are recovering from measles and one little boy lives too far from the school to come on stormy days. Six pupils present.‘
Kidlandlee School Register, 5th February 1930.

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What’s your story?

Did you have a favourite teacher at school?

What games did you play with your friends at playtime?

A bit of blether

Who was the clattergob in ya class?

Did ya teacher tell them to ‘Had ya wheest?

Life lessons

In the past, there were three good reasons for Coquetdale kids taking time off school.

Snow storms and floods could make the journey too difficult. Many of the children fell ill with childhood diseases like chicken pox, which spread quickly in the small communities. Others were needed to help at home or on the family farm.

‘Of course you could get off school in those days… Before my time, your parents could write to the education board, or through your teacher, you could get off for helping with the lambing, with the hay, to get the peats in and other things.’

Robert Bertram, who was born in Blindburn during a snow storm in January 1947.