The weather often affected the numbers of children who turned up for school in Victorian times. Many had a long way to walk to school, and those from poor families often didn't have good enough footwear to cope with rough ground and bad weather.

This was written in the Coelbren School diary in January 1895:
"Having made up my average for the week, I found that it only came to 41. The reason for this is that the weather is very bad, and the children are obliged to come a long way".

Another entry from Coelbren in 1896 said:
"I find that my attendance has been bad owing to the weather and washing and shearing sheep".
Sheep shearing is not done in winter - this was in June ! But being Wales, the weather could still stop children from getting to school !

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