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Last Updated: Sunday, 20 June, 2004, 09:26 GMT 10:26 UK
Temporary school for 'fair kids'
Newcastle Hoppings
The fair takes place on Newcastle's Town Moor
A temporary school has opened on Tyneside for the children of workers at a travelling fair.

The Hoppings, one of Europe's largest travelling fairs, is taking place on Newcastle's Town Moor until Sunday 27 June.

Lessons for the children of fair workers are held every weekday morning in temporary classrooms on the moor.

In the afternoons and evenings, the classrooms are used by the police and St John's Ambulance volunteers.

Traveller teacher Diane Barlow, who organises the Hoppings School, said that although attendance in lessons is not compulsory, last year around 80 pupils attended.

She said: "All the pupils are given work packs by their winter base schools, which they study with during the summer months when they travel with their families.

"The Hoppings School offers the pupils help with the work they have been set and also the chance to take part in other activities.

"It's vital that they are able to continue with their education while they travel around, which is what makes the school such an important part of the fair."


SEE ALSO:
Hoppings fair rolls into town
21 Jun 02  |  England


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