The toppling of Edward Colston's statue in June 2020 has been a topic of fierce and ongoing debate in Bristol since it happened. Colston's legacy has been reconsidered in recent history, as although his philanthropy led many buildings in Bristol to be named after him, he also made his fortune from the trafficking of thousands of African people.
This reconsideration has led three schools which were named after the slave trader to re-brand. Some schools made this decision after the Colston Four pushed the statue into the harbourside during a Black Lives Matter protest - an act for which they were acquitted of criminal damage in court - but one made the choice before.
Have a read below to find out more.
Collegiate School
The formerly named Colston's School recently announced that it will now be known as Collegiate School. The private school in Stapleton was founded by Edward Colston more than 300 years ago.
Read more: Colston's School announces new name
Leaders of the school, who said it was now "very different" to the school founded in 1710, underwent a lengthy consultation process to find a new name suggestions from parents, carers and the wider public. The school will be called Collegiate, or Collegiate School, from September this year, in order to become "more welcoming and inclusive."
Chair of the Governor's Board, Nick Baker, said of the decision: “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."
Montpelier High School
Colston's Girls' School announced that it would rename itself to Montpelier High School in November 2020. The school decided to change its name following a consultation process with pupils, parents and staff, as well as the public online.
Once the decision was taken in October 2020, the school set up a working party of staff and pupils who presented ten potential new names to the Venturers Trust, the academy board set up by the Society of Merchant Venturers which runs the school, and they shortlisted three. Staff and students voted on three different names - Montpelier, Liberty and Concordia - and three different suffixes, whether the school should be 'College', 'High School' or 'School.
From the vote, almost two thirds picked Montpelier High School as the new name. Principal Kerry McCullagh announced the result of the vote during a whole-school virtual assembly, and told students they 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”.
Cotham Gardens Primary School
Cotham Gardens Primary School’s governors was the first organisation to omit Colston from its name. The school made the decision in 2018, after a huge consultation with parents, pupils, and former students of the school.
Headteacher Alex Bell said at the time: “We have all embraced the new name and agree that the name and logo represent the school brilliantly. There has been a fabulous, fun and happy start to the school year and we look forward to the amazing future as Cotham Gardens Primary school.
“The parents have been really positive about it [the name change] and everyone I have spoken to have been very welcoming and positive about the change.”
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