Question about Lindisfarne/Holy Island for locals

[Stroopwaffels]

We visited Lindisfarne today, crossing the causeway at low tide. My teenage son was wondering how local children on the island get to and from school - there is a primary school on the island but not a senior school, so what are the arrangements for children aged over 11? Do they have a boarding house or somewhere they can stay when tide times don't work?

Oh good question. I loved visiting here and found is really fascinating! This post made me want to go again

In fact I think it's a first school on the island which isn't something I'm familiar with, assuming it goes up to age 8 or something?

I think first schools go up to Year 4, but could be wrong. You've asked a really interesting question! We were there recently and chatted to a lady that works for English Heritage and she said she just has to get to work when she can, so if that's 11am rather than 8.30, so be it. Obviously that doesn't really work for school though!

Well today the crossing safe time was about 8.30am to 2.45pm. So you could get your kids to school, but would have to wait until about 9pm to get them back home. And as tide times change every day there are going to be periods where it's impossible to get them off the island for school.

I do know that in remote parts of Scotland they have weekly boarding for remote children from places like Lochgoilhead, they are bussed to Dunoon on a Monday morning and stay in a school boarding house until the end of school on Friday. I think parents have to pay something towards their bed and board.

That is an interesting question.

Perhaps there’s a school boat rather than a school bus?

DS suggested perhaps a helicopter.

It is a very small island, there are perhaps not so many children/families.

I think they get boarding on the mainland during the week.

They're weekly borders at an independent school near Berwick, on a part bursary from the school, the rest paid for by our local council. There are very, very few children living on Holy Island.

Thank you! I suppose the challenges of getting to and from school is part of the reason why families choose not to live there.

The school I used to attend (middle school) in Northumberland had a few boarders from Holy Island

I was there recently and wondered exactly that!

Hi, does anyone out there have experience of living on Holy Island with children? Thinking of moving there and would like to know if there are any other kids there….