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Secondary Schools
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Fryerns Community School: Craylands, Fryerns


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Fryerns School Fryerns School Fryerns School
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Location: Fryerns School
Photographer: P.G.C.
Year of photo: 11/11/2004
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: Fryerns School signboard photographed from Broadmayne.
Location: Fryerns School
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 30/11/2002
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
Location: Fryerns School
Photographer: P.G.C.
Year of photo: 11/11/2004
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: The playing fields now fenced off from the school buildings.
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Fryerns School Fryerns School Fryerns School
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Location: Fryerns School
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 30/11/2002
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
Location: Fryerns School
Photographer: P.G.C.
Year of photo: 11/11/2004
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
Location: Fryerns School
Photographer: P.G.C.
Year of photo: 11/11/2004
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
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64 Proud Years - A history of Craylands and Fryerns School
Photo: B.Cox
Scan © Basildon History Collection
Fryerns School was the first 'new' secondary school to be opened in Basildon. This was in 1956 when Basildon was a new town and very much in its infancy.

The Pattiswick Square site was built close to the former Fryerns Farm that gave the area and school its name.

Fryerns originally opened as a Grammar and Technical, the first of two in Basildon when Barstable opened in 1962, and remained so until August 31st 1968, when local education was reorganised, the result of which saw the school merge with nearby Craylands County Secondary. The reorganisation meant that from September 1st 1968 the school became a Comprehensive though the name Fryerns was retained in preference over Craylands. Following the name change the Craylands site became the Lower School.

Years later for term 1994/1995 the name was changed to Fryerns Community School, and despite accommodation for up to 600 pupils, after a number of years of falling numbers the Governments Secretary of State for Education, on recommendation, approved closure as of 31st August 1999.

The first appointed Headmaster was Mr. Cyril Baggs who previously held the same post at Grays County Technical School. He remained in charge through to 1968 when he left for personal reasons. He was eventually succeeded by Mr. Sydney Hopewell in April 1969. During this period the schools' 'House' championship was contested each year between St. Bartholomew, Cornwallis, Botelers and De Vere.

The older building was first opened on September 9th, 1935 as Nevendon Craylands Council Senior School for Girls and its Boys' counterpart and stood in Timberlog Lane, Nevendon. From 1st September 1949 the two schools were merged to become Craylands County Secondary, with pupil intake beginning on 5th September, and this lasted to 1968 and the aforementioned merger with Fryerns Grammar and Technical. During the mid-to-late 1950s Broadmayne was constructed; initially as a single carriageway, and this bisected Timberlog Lane and the eastern section through to East Mayne was renamed Craylands in 1965, which it remains today.

Later Headteachers
In September 1974 Dr. Ken Hunter took over the headship following the departure of Mr. Hopewell at the end of the previous school year. Dr. Hunter remained in the post to August 1980 being followed by an Acting head in Mr. Turner who took charge to the end of the year. In January 1981 Mr. Timothy F. Slater was appointed headteacher through to August 1994. The schools Deputy Head Mr. Bob Plimmer then became Acting Head for the following autumn term and his replacement, Mr. Stuart Hayes, took over in January 1995. He was followed by the last headteacher, Mr. David A. Anderson, who took charge for the final year.

Some time in the late 1980s/early 1990s Social Services relocated (from Essex House, Cherrydown East) to the original Fryerns site with a new access road - Ely Way - from Broadmayne constructed.

In 2007 plans to build a housing estate on the site of the school were announced and the development called Beechwood began soon after. The first phase of properties were built on the school's playing fields and were in occupation before the buildings had been demolished. The second phase and the demolition of the school buildings began around April 2011 and continued into 2012.


Notes of interest:

1) On 12th May 1962 around 500 people attended a Basildon Council local election count, held in Crayland's school gymnasium. The council at that time comprised 28 councillors. Today it has 42.

Page added: 2002
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Text researched and written by William Cox, 2006 with revisions 2007, 2013.
Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2013, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved.

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