News / Colston's School
School founded by Edward Colston announces new name
The last school in Bristol to bear the name of Edward Colston has announced a new moniker that governors say represents its inclusive nature.
The private school in Stapleton, which is the only one in the city to have been founded by the notorious slave trader in 1710, has announced it will be formally known as Collegiate or Collegiate School, Bristol from September this year.
It was in December last year that the school announced plans to shed the Colston name following a formal consultation that was open to the school community and the wider public.
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Tuesday’s announcement comes in the wake of a further consultation process that saw hundreds of suggestions put forward by students, parents, staff and alumni.
The new name was chosen due to its previous connection with the school after a merger with the Collegiate School in Winterbourne in 1991 that saw it become fully co-educational and change its name to Colston’s Collegiate for a time.
Colston’s School will be known as Collegiate School, Bristol from September – photo: Colston’s School
In an announcement on the school’s website, chair of the governing 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.”
The school is the latest of many institutions and venues in the city to shed links with Edward Colston in recent years.
The governing board have stressed that the change in name must not be interpreted as an attempt to change or deny the school’s history.
Baker added: “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.”
Several organisations, schools and institutions have changed their names since Colston’s statue was toppled on June 7 2020 – photo: Martin Booth
Headteacher 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.”
Main photo: Colston’s School
Read more: Colston statue should remain on display in museum, commission finds
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