Primary school to consider dropping its ‘slave trader’ name

 A primary school is attempting to change its name because of its links to Edward Colston, a slave trader.

Colston’s Primary School in Bristol is consulting parents and pupils about whether it should drop its name in order to sever ties with the 17th century merchant, whose fortune was built on slavery.

In a letter to parents, the school, which was founded in 1947, asked whether “the time [has] come for a change”.

Various higher education institutions have dealt with similar issues thanks to the so-called “Rhodes effect” – so named after an attempt to persuade Oxford University to tear down a statue of Cecil Rhodes from Oriel College because of his links with Britain’s colonial past.

However, this is thought to be the first time the phenomenon has taken hold at a primary school.

Governors are expected to come to a decision by the end of the year as the school prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

The move comes after one of the city’s music venues, Colston Hall, announced that it would change its name by 2020 because Colston’s heritage had become “toxic”.