Tiny Dales school stays open in snow thanks to parent with digger
Seven of the primary school’s 27 pupils made in it for lessons including igloo building.
A tiny school which stands more than 1,100 feet (335m) above sea level remained open despite blizzards thanks to teachers battling through the elements and a parent with a digger.
Wearhead School did not shut, unlike more than 240 others in County Durham, after the local community rallied round.
A parent dug out the path and yard, two teachers walked to school, one drove and two got the bus from Stanhope.
“Five children from the village walked, one came by car from St John’s Chapel and one from Westgate.”
The school’s 27 pupils mainly live on local farms, high in scenic Weardale, and has only shut once because of weather in the past 13 years.
The children – aged four to 11 – made snow art, built igloos and snowmen and then had a maths class.
The head said she will decide later whether to open on Thursday.