Tyneside youngsters took a trip to a Northumbrian village yesterday to explore the rural world of their countryside counterparts.
The 235-pupil Richardson Dees School in High Street East in Wallsend (population 10,000) has twinned with the 45-pupil first school at Bellingham (population 845) so that the rural and urban children can learn about each other's worlds.
Tabbitha Garratt, age 10, from Wallsend
Richardson Dees teacher Bridget Lynch said: "Many of the children haven't ventured further than Wallsend before.
List of school closures in Northumberland due to the snow »
Bellingham Middle School and Bellingham First School are open today to local children, although school transport is not running.
Schoolchildren got bogged down in a conservation project to provide a habitat for new plant species.
From initial design to planting native tree species, all 12 pupils from Kielder First School helped to create a bog habitat in their village.
Wildlife experts are hoping the fruits of their labour will attract 26 new species of flora and new wildlife to England's most remote village.
View Bellingham Community Middle School Key Stage 2 test results.
For exam results from other Northumberland schools around Bellingham see the Hexham, Haltwhistle, Morpeth and Ponteland microsites.
View comparative tables for Northumberland schools: Key Stage 2, GCSE, Post-16.
A major review is to be carried out amid fears that a declining population in Northumberland will force the closure of more small schools and harm rural communities.
A working group of county councillors will be given the task of investigating the likely future impact of demographic change on the demand for school places across the county.
It will try to identify how many schools are at risk of closure because of falling rolls and how council policies - such as in new housing development - can help tackle the problem.
People with any concerns or problems following recent changes in home to school transport arrangements in the west of Northumberland are being urged to seek help and advice from the county council.
Parents or schools with worries should contact the transport unit on (01670) 533644 or 533673.
Schoolgirl piper Jessica Lamb doesn't blow her own trumpet - but the best in Britain says she's a star in the making.
The 14-year-old is so good that expert Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell has taken the young genius under her wing and is proving to be far better than folk musicians twice her age.
Jessica picked up the pipes when her name was plucked out of a hat at school. There was one set of hired pipes and too many wanted to play.
There were mixed results for Bellingham Middle Schools in this year's Key Stage Two league tables.
The school saw the number of its children getting the target level in English jump from 79% in 2007 to 89% last year. But there were reductions in the number of children hitting required levels in maths and science.
The results meant Bellingham was ranked 16th of the 45 middle and primary schools in Northumberland.
Bellingham Community Middle School
Bellingham First School
Greenhaugh First School
West Woodburn First School
Wark Church of England First School
Otterburn First School
Kielder Community First School
For Ofsted reports from other Northumberland schools around Bellingham see the Hexham, Haltwhistle, Morpeth and Ponteland microsites.
Northumberland County Council Children's Services Ofsted survey
Schoolchildren from around Northumberland battled it out in a swimming competition while being cheered on by Olympic and Commonwealth medal winners.
Some of the winners at the event at Hexham, with stars Chris Cook, left, and Nick Gillingham adding support
The competition, held at the Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham, saw 80 children aged eight to 15 compete in a range of events, including team relays, individual front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke.
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