Sunderland Road Infants School

The earliest school in Gateshead was the Anchorage at St. Mary’s Church. This school existed from the 1600s although it was not compulsory for children to go to school until 1870. Until then many children were unable to go to school because they had to work or could not afford the school fees. Sunderland Road Infants School opened 1879. It was one of the first Board schools in Gateshead and could accommodate 1050 children. The site cost £2000 and the cost per child (to the Council) was £9 12s 11d (in today’s money £9.64).