Old School House, Langdon Hills Laindon Park, Laindon Basildon History Janet Duke, Laindon Pitsea School
The Phoenix Primary School
Leinster Road, Laindon
Phoenix School
Location: Leinster Road
Photographer: Stuart Wilson
Year of photo: 2006
Copyright: Stuart Wilson
Source: Stuart Wilson
Comments: Phoenix primary school.
Phoenix School
Location: Leinster Road
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 27/07/2003
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: Taken just prior to removal of the Bluehouse nameboards.
Phoenix School
Location: Leinster Road
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 27/07/2003
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: Taken just prior to removal of the Bluehouse nameboards.
The Phoenix Primary School
The Phoenix Primary School opened in September 2003, following the decision to amalgamate and rename Bluehouse County Infant and Junior School. The school had originally opened as Bluehouse County Infant/Junior school in the 1960s to serve the new Laindon 1, 2 & 3 and Five Links housing estates, currently being built close by, parts of which were occupied by 1966. The school was named after a local farm that once stood nearby, and whose farmhouse was still residential until the early 1970s, before being demolished around 1974.

Initially pupil numbers were low, and in 1968, many 1st year Junior intake were transferred from nearby Janet Duke to increase numbers.
The first infant school headmistress was Mrs Wilson and the first junior school headmaster was Mr H.C. Goodwin.

A traditional house point system operated comprising: Danes (blue), Normans (yellow), Saxons (green) and Romans (red).
An early feature of the playing field between the infant and junior school were some elm trees, which were later removed in the early 1970s.
Swimming lessons were held at nearby Nicholas school, with some swimming examinations being taken at Hutton, though Basildon's Gloucester Park was soon used.

During the early 1970s, demountable classrooms appeared as intake expanded when the Five Links estate was completed. A caretakers house was added in the 1990s.

The last junior school Head Teacher was Mr Peter Minter who left in July 2002. For the final year, 2002/2003, Mrs Mabel Butcher, Head Teacher of the infant school, became acting Head Teacher of Bluehouse junior, with her deputy becoming acting Head Teacher of the infant school. Following the official closure of Bluehouse on 31st August 2003 Mrs Butcher was appointed Head Teacher of The Phoenix Primary School.

Some junior school teachers from the 1960s and 1970s include Mrs Olive Willcock, Mrs Greg, Mr Mitchell, Mrs Jones, Mr Parry, Mr McGoldrick, Mr Addicote, Mr Gifford, Mr Eaglin, Mr Drummond, Mr Evans, Mr Salmon, Mr Flaxman, Mrs Audrey Choules, Mrs Liddament and Mrs Jefferies.

Famous former pupil:
Martin Gore - Depeche Mode member 1980 (guitarist/singer/songwriter/keyboards)

Text written 2006 with revisions 2006-2008.
Copyright © 2006-2008, Basildon History Online. All rights reserved.

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