Plymouth, Goosewell Primary School, Plymstock

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

GOOSEWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL, PLYMSTOCK

Following the reorganisation brought about by the Education Act 1944, the Goosewell Elementary School became the Goosewell County Primary School.

With the Plymstock area growing in population as the wealthier Plymothians moved in to the country, it became necessary to erect a new building for the junior pupils. This was first occupied on September 8th 1953 and was officially opened by Lord Roborough, chairman of the South-West Divisional Executive, on October 19th 1953.

The School had been designed by the County Architect, Mr H V de Courcy Hague and built by Messrs Carkeek & Sons Ltd of Plymouth at a cost of £31,273. The building comprised six classrooms and an assembly hall, with offices and cloakrooms, and would accommodate 240 children between the ages of 7 and 11. Also in attendance at the opening ceremony was Mr B G Lampard-Vachell, the chairman of the Devon County Education Committee, and Mr C H Knapman, chairman of Plympton Rural District Council. The Headmaster was Mr Deacon, who was due to retire in two years time.

In September 1992 Goosewell Infant and Goosewell Junior Schools amalgamated under Headmaster Mr John Heath. Both the original school buildings, built in the 1950s and 1970s, were restored and refurbished and the new Goosewell Primary School was officially opened on January 25th 1996 by the chairman of Devon County Council, Councillor Ken Watson.

The work was designed by the Devon Design Practice and carried out by Messrs Carkeek & Sons Ltd of Plymouth.

The School originally took 450 pupils in 16 classes but there were five spare classrooms so there was capacity to increase the numbers to 600 as the housing in the area expanded.