In Presteigne children were also occasionally absent from school collecting oak bark which they could sell to the tannery.

In 1883 boys from Old Radnor School were absent for another reason...

The entry reads:
"Many boys away for the purpose of 'beating' for the cover shooting on the Harpton estate."

The owners of the Harpton Estate were very rich and employed a great many local people.
The Headmaster, Mr Stone, may have been annoyed at losing so many of his pupils to the shoot but he could not afford to complain.

More about absence from school...