I saw a Tyne Valley coach in Priestpopple Hexham yesterday - it had about a dozen passengers onboard, but it bypassed the bus station so I don't know what it was doing.
At the same time, a Wrightsbus midi bus did the same - came up Loosing Hill (from the station), again with about a dozen passengers and drove straight past the bus station.
Could they have been taking people to the High School? 
It wasn't school ending time - about 2pm.

Both were displaying the yellow 'school' signs, but those that carry school pupils tend to leave those signs in place.