Armathwaite School   

There appears in Armathwaite to be two Schools:- the present establishment and the Old School.  The latter building, now used as a village hall, was where education began in Armathwaite, in the early 19^th Century; initially for the cost of 2pence per week per child, reductions for families with more than one child provided that the boys collected kindling for the fire and the girls helped with the cleaning!  The schoolmaster lived in a small room above the classroom.  Although the school, which unlike many rural schools in Cumberland was non-denominational, had been enlarged and had a schoolyard added the building was no longer suitable for the educational changes in the 20^th Century.  The present building was opened on 14^th April 1910.

The present school is now on the outskirts of the village near the station and there are wonderful views from the grounds across the Eden valley towards the northern Pennines.  However, its position does mean a daily energetic walk for parents and children.  Although the building has changed little since opening (except for the kitchen extension) it has been modernised internally with the introduction of electric lighting, central heating and the remodelling of the classroom.  There are still reminders of the past, e.g. the fireplaces and the lantern hooks.

Educationally there have been changes in pupil admissions.  Initially the school was for pupils of all ages and, for a time, older girls from other schools came to Armathwaite School for Domestic Science and the older boys used the orchard as an allotment.  However changes began in 1955 when the school became an Infant and Junior school; the pupils of secondary age being transferred to Lazonby.  The school re-opened as a primary school on 5^th September 1955 with 33 pupils.

A further change to the school’s status took place in the beginning of January 1975 when the school became a First School with ages ranging from 4-8 years.  This change coincided with the closure of Ainstable school, whose younger children transferred to Armathwaite; the years 4,5 & 6 from both schools going to High Hesket (There are no log book minutes for the reasons for the change).

In March 1979 the LEA called a meeting in school with the purpose of either retaining the school as an independent unit or federating with High Hesket.  The latter proposal was rejected by 52 votes to 2.  On 14^th April 1985 there was a well-attended celebration for the 75^th anniversary of the opening of the present building.

The school continues to thrive.  It is well supported by parents and the community; as was demonstrated when the future of the school was last debated in 1999.  Following the latest recent Ofsted inspection the school was described as one of the Country’s outstanding schools; a just reward for the dedication of the Headteacher and all her staff (teaching & non-teaching) and the support and hard work of the children, parents and the local community.

Mrs Anne Sparrow