School named after slaver Colston votes to lose link

Staff and students vote on new name as head praises pupils for ‘navigating complex issue with maturity’
6th November 2020, 5:56pm

Share

School named after slaver Colston votes to lose link

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/school-named-after-slaver-colston-votes-lose-link
Slave Trader Name School

The school formerly named after slave trader Edward Colston, whose statue was toppled during a Black Lives Matter protest in June, is set to be renamed.

Colston’s Girls’ School (CGS) in Bristol will become Montpelier High School after a vote with current students and staff.

The school was established in 1891, 169 years after the death of Colston, and was built with money he had endowed to support education.


UK’s first female black headteacher: ‘We started from scratch’

Exclusive: ‘Teachers’ racist attitudes stuck in 1980s’

Racism: Stephen Lawrence’s mother challenges minister over school racism

Related: My ‘outstanding’ school is structurally racist


The school’s name and association with Colston had been the subject of renewed public debate after a statue of the 17th-century merchant was toppled during a Black Lives Matter protest in June.

Principal Kerry McCullagh said students had “navigated a complex and emotional issue with skill and maturity” and that they had “shown respect for others throughout the process, acknowledging that there are many views and opinions that reach far beyond the city”.

She added: “We are conscious of the cost implication for our community of a school-wide rebrand.

“Updating uniforms mid-way through a school year is not something we would ask parents to do.”

The school is now named after Montpelier, the suburb in which it lies just to the north of Bristol’s city centre.

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared