Renaming slave-trader’s school ‘would erase history’
There would be no benefit in denying the existence of Edward Colston, Bristol head teacher tells parents
THE head teacher of a girls’ school founded by the slave trader Edward Colston has said he refuses to “obscure history” by changing its name.
John Whitehead, principal of Colston’s Girls’ School in Bristol, told parents that the school would keep its name because there was “no benefit” in “denying the school’s financial origin”. He said it was important for pupils to “engage thoughtfully” with the past, rather than brush it out altogether.
In a letter to parents, Mr Whitehead
‘By enabling our students to engage with our past, we encourage them to stand up for what they believe is right’
said: “It has been suggested that Colston’s Girls’ School should change its name in order to remove the association with Edward Colston.
“We have considered this suggestion and we have listened carefully to views on both sides. After much discussion, it has been agreed that it would not be appropriate to rename the school.”
He went on to explain: “There is no doubt that Colston’s Girls’ School exists today as an outstanding school for girls, nationally known for its academic excellence and well respected for its inclusivity and diversity – because of the financial endowment given by Edward Colston – but we see no benefit in denying the school’s financial origin and obscuring history itself.
“To the contrary, by enabling our students to engage thoughtfully with our past, we continue to encourage them to ask questions about presentday moral values and to stand up for what they believe is right.”
Colston has been celebrated as one of Bristol’s major philanthropists, and part of his huge fortune was used for a number of philanthropic projects, including the building of schools, almshouses and churches. However, his personal wealth came largely from his key role running the transatlantic slave trade both from London and Bristol.
He was a deputy governor of the Royal African Company which between 1672 and 1698 transported about 100,000 enslaved Africans to plantations in the West Indies and America.
In 1710, Colston set up a school for “100 poor boys”, then handed over its management and his endowment to the Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol. In 1873 it was proposed that part of the endowment be set aside for a girls’ day school, and in 1891 Colston’s Girls’ School opened for 300 pupils.
Last month the school, which is one of the best girls’ schools in Bristol, stripped all mention of Colston from an annual service in his honour and instead said it would acknowledge the “damage done by slavery”.
School officials ruled there would be no mention of Colston at his Commemoration Day service at Bristol Cathedral this month. Traditionally it has involved present and former students wearing a chrysanthemum, Colston’s flower. But this year, the girls will no longer be required to wear the flower.
Colston Hall, Bristol’s concert hall, recently announced it would change its name as part of a rebranding in 2020. Meanwhile Colston’s Primary School is consulting parents over whether it should change its name.
The row over Colston’s legacy echoes the “Rhodes Must Fall” campaign, in which Oxford students demanded the removal of a statue to the British colonialist Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College.