The James Hornsby School in Leinster Road, Laindon opened in September
1998 following a merger between the two local senior schools Nicholas and The Laindon. For the first two years of its
existence the school was based at the former Laindon School site at High Road while the former Nicholas School at Leinster Road underwent
an extensive refurbishment. This was completed in 2000 and subsequently The James Hornsby High School, as it was then known,
relocated to the Nicholas site for the September opening of term. The name The James Hornsby School was adopted from the
beginning of the school term commencing 1st September 2012. To learn more of the history of the school site is to go
back to the 1960s when Nicholas County Secondary School became the fifth new secondary school to open since the designation
of Basildon New Town in 1949. This was in September 1963. The others at that time were Fryerns Grammar and Technical,
Timberlog, Woodlands (Boys) and (Girls) and Barstable Grammar and Technical, along with two pre-new town schools Laindon High
Road and Craylands in Timberlog Lane. The school has extensive grounds parts of which run parallel with St. Nicholas Lane, which along with the
school took its name - in the school's case less the abbreviation St. (see notes) - from St. Nicholas Church which stands
overlooking the area at the top of Church Hill. The main entrance to the school is in Leinster Road which existed years before the
new town but was realigned and extended to create a direct route to Markhams Chase. Mr. John Goodier
was the first appointed Headmaster. Sometime around 1966 and with pupil numbers on the increase following the
partial completion of the Laindon 1, 2 and 3 (Siporex) estate a proposal was put forward to create a third Basildon Grammar
School on the existing playing fields adjoining the school. Another proposal for consideration was that the land should be used
as an extension to the existing school. In the event the second option was the one adopted and a new large rectangular three-storey
extension block and other additional buildings including an indoor swimming pool were erected and brought into use in stages
from 1968 onwards. The school on opening was classed as secondary modern though this changed to comprehensive in September
1968. Nicholas survived to July 1998, the last day being Thursday 16th July, and the school
was then refurbished over a two year period, re-opening in September 2000 as the James Hornsby High
School. Notes of interest:
1) Since 1998 when Nicholas closed there has become a common misnomer
regarding the school's name. Some sources including newspaper articles, Facebook and Twitter posts etc., local history books
and even former pupils often make the mistake of referring to the school as St. Nicholas, probably on the assumption that it shared
the name of the nearby church and main road (St. Nicholas Lane), part of which runs parallel with the school grounds. Although it
did take the name Nicholas, from that of the saint the local church is named after, the preceeding 'St.' was never used at any time
in the life of the school. Quite why the school wasn't named St. Nicholas at the time of opening has never been revealed but it
might have been thought that had it had that name some might have presumed it to be a catholic only school.
2) Two members of the synth/rock group Depeche Mode attended Nicholas between 1972-1977. Martin Gore and Andrew
Fletcher (08/07/1961-26/05/2022), who both lived on the neighbouring Lee Chapel North estate, along with Vince Clarke and Dave
Gahan, also from Basildon, went on to achieve both stage and chart success around the world (though Clarke would leave early
on), right up to the present. The four members first performance, using the name 'Composition of Sound', was on the main stage
in the school hall on Saturday 14th June, 1980. A plaque commemorating the event, though not the full date, adorns a wall in the
school hall.
3) Another former Nicholas pupil Alison Moyet achieved lasting success through music. In late 1981 she joined former
Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke as the singer in the synth/pop duo Yazoo. Following the break up of Yazoo in 1983 she
embarked on a solo career which proved successful and continues to this day. 4) Conservative politician Mark Francois
attended the school from 1976. He served as a councillor for the Langdon Hills Ward from 1991-1995 and went on to win the since
abolished Rayleigh seat in the 2001 general election. He now serves as the MP for the Rayleigh and Wickford seat, which he has
held since its creation in 2010. | 
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