London school drops Churchill and JK Rowling house names in diversity drive

18 November 2021, 17:59

Holy Trinity CE Primary has dropped Winston Churchill and J.K. Rowling's names from its school houses.
Holy Trinity CE Primary has dropped Winston Churchill and J.K. Rowling's names from its school houses. Picture: Alamy

By James Morris

A London primary school has dropped Winston Churchill and J.K. Rowling from its house names after pupils wanted to increase its diversity.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Holy Trinity CE Primary School, in Richmond, has replaced the Churchill house name with that of school meal campaigner and England footballer Marcus Rashford, who received an MBE earlier this month.

The Rowling house name, meanwhile, has been replaced with Mary Seacole, the nurse who helped wounded British soldiers back to health during the Crimean War in the 19th century, and is considered one of the greatest Britons.

The changes were announced last month as part of Black History Month, following a vote by pupils.

Marcus Rashford receives MBE from Prince William

In a newsletter to parents on 21 October, the school said: "The children across school have been keen to change some of the names of the school houses to be more diverse.

"The JLT compiled a shortlist and the children have been involved in voting.

"We are pleased to be able to announce the name changes during Black History Month. Churchill has been replaced by Rashford and Rowling by Seacole."

Winston Churchill cancelled, what do you think, minister?

The status of wartime prime minister Mr Churchill in modern day public life – due to his comments on race – has regularly been brought into question since last summer's Black Lives Matter protests.

He is considered one of the greatest ever Britons by some, but remains a controversial figure among others.

Harry Potter author Ms Rowling, meanwhile, has been heavily criticised for her views on transgender issues.

Read more: School refuses to serve food to pupils whose meal account is more than a penny in debt

Read more: Revealed: 90% of Tories who made £1.3m from second jobs voted against free school meals

One parent told MailOnline that "a lot of us are quite shocked that the school authorities have decided that the contributions of Churchill and Rowling deserve to be erased from the records... presumably this has happened party due to the supposed thoughtcrimes committed by these two national figures".

LBC has contacted the school for comment, but headteacher Alison Bateman, speaking to MailOnline, reiterated the decision was taken at a vote among pupils.

Ms Bateman added "we have a lot of support from parents, some of whom have themselves challenged us in the past about the lack of diversity in the names".

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says