Seen through the park, Burke mixed secondary modern school, Plaistow, originated as Balaam Street board school, opened in 1897 for 1,556, as successor to the old Balaam Street school. On each floor it had a large central hall flanked by classrooms, to facilitate direct control by the head teachers. In 1930 it was reorganized for senior boys, senior girls and infants. The infants school continued as Balaam Street but the senior schools were renamed after Edmund Burke, the statesman, who lived in Balaam Street for a short time. The school closed at the outbreak of the Second World War, and again in September 1940, but reopened in November 1940 as Balaam Street Emergency School for infants, juniors and seniors. It remained open as Balaam Street until 1945 when it was reorganised and reopened as Burke mixed secondary modern school. It was demolished in 1973.