There'd be no moaning from the children, or any adults who are teachers, about going back to school after a half-term break or long summer holiday if the building they were returning to was this delightful and characterful former Victorian village school.
Packed full of original character, the lesson for today is how to convert a listed building from one distinctive use into a versatile home whilst retaining its charm and ambience (but maybe not its school dinners from the past, squeaky chalk blackboards and sticky chewing gum under the desk).
Called Yr Hen Ysgol (The Old School), this former centre of education is now a centre for modern living in a unique surrounding, but it's taken patience and budget to create this special home and also patience. This renovation took 20 years which is almost as long as it took the owner of this country cottage to transform it from wreck to stunning home, which took 22 years - read more about the cottage and the renovation challenges here.
Built in 1848 as a national school, the building achieved its Grade II listed status in June 1996 due to it being 'a well preserved former national school in an attractive village setting', according to website British Listed Buildings.
The main school building is the main house, but this property comes with so much more and was a perfect offering for the current owner, who says: "When we were looking to purchase a property in Wales, we had what we thought were a daunting list of requirements and so it proved, so it took us over twelve months to achieve our goal."
But they kept looking and never deviated away from what they wanted, so when they saw Yr Hen Ysgol they immediately knew it could be adapted and renovated to suit their list of requirements from their new Welsh home. And it's likely its versatile nature will instantly appeal to a new owner looking for space, character and potential.
If a new owner is looking for a period home that can also accommodate another layer of the extended family, this property gets an A* mark from the teacher.
Attached to the main school house but with its own facilities is the former headmaster's house, but these days being sent there is not a daunting prospect - now it's a pretty extra home that can give the property full marks from all the family.
The current owner says: "On our wish list was somewhere for Ian's 80-year-old parents to live. They wished to join us in our move to Wales but it was so important that they were going to be comfortable and happy. So the cottage, which is attached to the school house, was perfect for them."
And if a new owner wanted to set up a holiday let in this cottage there might be the opportunity to do so - a conversation with the local planning office is a must if this was a serious option for a potential buyer, or this extra living space could be incorporated into the main building to create an even bigger single home.
If any further renovation does occur for the property to suit a new owner's lifestyle, let's hope they were listening in woodwork and metalwork classes; maybe they should bring in the professionals to avoid an epic fail in their exam for the finished result.
Surrounded by stunning rural vistas and nestled within the cutest of country villages, the home can not only ooze character and a separate annexe, it can offer a bonus building that so many buyers are currently looking for due to a change in work location circumstances since the coronavirus pandemic - a home office.
But this home office is not a simple cabin in the garden, lovely though they can be, this is a two-storey, pretty stone cottage found in the old playground that has been built with so much attention to detail that it looks like it has always been part of the site.
The owner says: "We wanted room to build an office outside the home, so with a playground already there space was certainly not an issue. The two-storey office was built in 2005 and great care was taken using Welsh roofing slate and stone that was a close match to the school house to ensure that the office remained in keeping with such an important property."
But the main school building is arguably the main event in this abode, boasting a mesmerising space that used to be two connecting classrooms and is now a vast kitchen diner, separated if required by a classic panelled, multi-glass paned folding partition wall that were so popular in past Victorian school buildings but sadly many have been removed.
This single feature alone ensures this home can claim to be truly characterful.
But when combined with exposed ceiling beams, exposed stone walls, wood window shutters, log burners, wall panelling, a cosy mezzanine level and a traditional and expected country kitchen complete with Aga, the character is undeniable, instantly appealing and adds the icing to the vast spaces and former school features that remain.
But the school was not passing any style exams when the couple first bought it. The owner says: "When we purchased the property it is safe to say it was in need of serious TLC, so over the last 20 years whilst we have been living at Yr Hen Ysgol, we have undertaken a programme of building works, initially starting internally.
"These works include: replacing all sitting room windows, creating a kitchen with an Aga in one of the school rooms complete with a walk-in larder and a mezzanine above.
"We had great fun with kitchen planners who couldn't understand that we wanted a character kitchen and had no intention of taking out the original floor to ceiling glass and wood panelled doors that separate the two classrooms.
"The kitchen is our favourite room with room for two sofas so ideal to cook, chat and entertain too. We also created a mezzanine above the kitchen would easily make a further bedroom, but is also ideal for a study, music room or games room.
"Then a downstairs dressing room with a shower room alongside was created, plus a further bathroom, next to the sitting room."
You would think after 20 years of renovation and interior design projects the couple would be happy to put their feet up more often now but they say in the last 18 months the whole of the school and cottage roofs have been replaced, as have four chimney stacks and the five dining room windows.
The couple have nurtured this special building from nursery through primary and high school to college graduation day, but now it's time to move on and let someone else enjoy the result of their property parenting skills.
The owner says: "Throughout our building programme we were determined that the character of this special property was kept. Yr Hen Ysgol is a place quite unlike anything else in this beautiful area and is now looking for a very special owner and family that will love this unique, quirky property as much as we have."
Could it be time for you and your family to move schools to this countryside catchment area in the peaceful village of Aberbanc, found between Llandeilo and Newcastle Emlyn and surrounded by the glorious Ceredigion countryside?
The beautiful beaches of the Llangrannog, Aberporth and New Quay areas are a short drive to the north, as well as the town of Cardigan.
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Tenby, Llanelli and Swansea are further to the south for further beaches or urban facilities, but you really don't need a geography lesson to realise that this home is well located for a perfect combination of country, coast and village living, with towns and cities just a drive away.
After a day rambling the rural surroundings, bathing at the beach or retail therapy at an urban centre, it's then back to school at Aberbanc with the only homework being to thoroughly enjoy yourself living at this thoroughly lovely and versatile home.
Yr Hen Ysgol is on the market for offers in excess of £695,000 with estate agent Fine & Country West Wales, call them on 01974 299055 to find out more.
