School ditches Isis name after terrorist jibes

A SCHOOL given a proud new name barely two years ago is changing it again – thanks to the rise of Islamic State.

Isis Academy was named after a nearby stretch of the Thames where Oxford University’s rowers hone their skills.

But within a year of the change in 2013 it was sharing its identity with the world’s most notorious terrorist organisation, known variously as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), IS, Isil and Daesh.

The former Iffley Mead School in south Oxford, given its unfortunate new name when it became an academy, is now changing it again to become Iffley Academy. New signs are already being installed.

Head teacher Kay Willett explained: ‘You would give the address out on the phone and when you said “Isis” the person would pause and say “oh”.

‘Anybody who did not know the nature of the school would make comments like, “Are you training the children to be terrorists?” It became so prevalent and if you googled Isis you got a mixture of photos of terrorists and photos of our kids.

‘The children themselves were beginning to pick up on the fact there were negative comments and we wanted them to be able to be proud of their school.’

The 132-pupil special school, whose pupils have a range of disabilities, is rated as outstanding by Ofsted,

Mrs Willett added: ‘Many of our students aged ten to 18 have autism and mental health needs and they rely on us to give out positive messages about life. When we told them why the name was going to change they were happy with that.’

However, other organisations named after the river are sticking by their choices.

Chris Carey, of Isis Electrical in Oxford, said: ‘We are still Isis — it seems people are calling the terrorist group “Daesh” now anyway. I still get a few comments and I get funny looks in places outside Oxfordshire.

‘It is just a storm in a teacup and we are happy to keep the name.’