SCHOOL TO CHANGE LOGO TO CUT LINKS TO COLSTON
ABRISTOL school has opted to keep its name despite links to Bristol slave trader Edward Colston, but will change its school logo after a vote by pupils, parents and staff.
The Dolphin School, a primary school in Montpelier next door to Colston’s Girls’ School, was set up eight years ago and took the name Dolphin, which is associated with Edward Colston and his family.
The Colston family emblem featuring dolphins is closely matched by the school emblem.
A consultation was launched last month with parents, pupils and staff learning about the links between the school and the 18th century slave trader, with a public consultation also taking place.
A total of 460 pupils, parents and carers, staff and governors voted in the internal poll. Almost half – 46 per cent – picked the option to keep the name but change the emblem, matching the outcome of the 68 votes in the public poll.
Katie Jenkins, the school’s acting principal, said: “The children have enjoyed exploring two sides of a story so deeply connected to Bristol. They know who Edward Colston was and where much of his wealth came from, but many had not made the connection between the dolphin on the Colston family crest and the name and emblem of our school.
“We looked at the significance of these through a different lens and the children were fascinated by the range of opinions. They expressed their own views articulately and demonstrated a high level of respect when listening to the views of their peers.”
Dolphin School was set up in 2012 by the Society of Merchant Venturers as a primary school next door to Colston’s Girls’ School.
The dolphin has long been associated with Edward Colston, and the family emblem of two dolphins facing each other appears on the plinth beneath the statue of the slave trader.
A legend told over the centuries in Bristol has it that one of Colston’s ships was damaged at sea and a hole appeared beneath the water line. The ship was about to sink, but a dolphin wedged its body into the hole to stop up the leak and the ship managed to reach port.
As one of the key figures in the running of the Royal Africa Company in London in the 17th century, Colston’s own ships transported 80,000 enslaved African people across to the plantations of North America and the Caribbean, and almost 20,000 died or were killed in the crossing.
Following the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in June this year, all three of schools most closely linked with Edward Colston, that are still run by the Society of Merchant Venturers, announced consultations on the future of their names.
Colston’s Girls’ School – which shares a similar dolphin logo with The Dolphin School – announced earlier this month it was going to change its name, and Colston’s School is still consulting.
A Dolphin School spokesperson said: “Feedback from the survey included a strong feeling that the dolphin itself is a positive image that represents intelligence, curiosity, playfulness and harmony and that this is a positive association for the school.
“After half term, pupils will begin to consider how the school’s identity might be reflected in a new emblem and a local artist will be commissioned to help bring that identity to life.”
Gail Bragg, chair of trustees for Venturers Trust, the multi- academy trust run by the Society of Merchant Venturers that runs a number of schools in the city, said she was impressed with the work of the children.
“This has been an important journey for The Dolphin School community and the children have developed an important life skill in how to properly listen and be heard.
“I’m really impressed by the enthusiasm they have shown throughout the consultation process and the confidence they have demonstrated in asking questions and drawing their own conclusions.
“Our trust-wide goal is for all children from all backgrounds to succeed and we must equip young people with the skills and confidence to make decisions and shape the future.”
Chris Patterson, the school’s chair of governors, said: “We regularly review our curriculum to make sure that it’s relevant to the many cultures and faiths of our students and staff. For all pupils to have the same opportunity to succeed, they must be able to see themselves represented in different lessons and learn about role models they can identify with.
“As a school community, we have chosen to rebrand our identity to reflect our collective aspirations and value.”
The dolphin itself is a positive image that represents intelligence, curiosity, playfulness and harmony ... this is a positive association for the school
School spokesperson