It is fitting that the old Haroldswick School should become Unst’s Heritage Centre.  People have long recognised the importance of education.  Before education became compulsory in the 1870’s a considerable effort was carried out by the Church to give the children basic education and the rudiments of Christian Knowledge.

Education On Unst

With a very scattered population and our unpredictable climate it was deemed necessary to set up ‘Side-schools’ in remote areas.  Sometimes they were manned for six months and then the teacher would move to another for six months.    As roads and transport improved the number of schools fell.