A Bristol private school founded by Edward Colston more than 300 years ago has announced its new name. Colston's School revealed plans to drop its name in December, after Black Lives Matter protesters pulled down a statue of the slave trader.
Leaders of the school, who said it was now "very different" to the school founded in 1710, launched a lengthy consultation process welcoming name suggestions from parents, carers and the wider public. Now they have announced the school will be called Collegiate, or Collegiate School, from September this year, in order to become "more welcoming and inclusive."
Governors say Collegiate was a strong contender due to the name's previous connections with the school. In 1991, upon merging with the Collegiate School in Winterbourne, the school became known as Colston's Collegiate.
Also read: Major changes planned to north Bristol transport corridor
Chair of the Governor's Board, Nick Baker, said: “Collegiate not only represents the inclusive nature of the school, but the way in which the different sections of the school and the school community work together. Our Nursery, Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form all work together for the collective good, so too the school with our parents, former pupils and its wider community.”
The school says the Governing Board is clear this change must not be interpreted as an attempt to change or deny the school's history. Mr Baker continued: "We believe it is important that students attending the school continue to be taught about the school's history; specifically, Edward Colston's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. In order to assist with this, some historical aspects of the school, for example the crest and motto, will be retained and explained, rather than removed."
The school’s Head, Jeremy McCullough, welcomed the announcement, saying: “Increasingly our student and parental body reflect the diverse nature of Bristol and we want to continue to work with our local communities in order to widen access to our school as much as possible. We believe that moving forwards with this new name will help us to become an ever more inclusive and welcoming community.”
The school will formally be known as Collegiate from the start of the autumn term in September. Its first Open Morning under the new name will take place at the end of September.
Colston's School had been the last educational establishment in Bristol to bear the name of Edward Colston. In 2018, before the Colston statue was pulled down, Colston Primary School changed its name after a consultation with parents and children, and earlier this year, Colston's Girls' School - which is also run by the same Merchant Venturer-led organisation that runs Colston's School - decided to change its name to Montpelier High School.
