A “woke” headteacher of a leading private school has sparked outrage after removing references to “non-inclusive” British historical figures from the school building.
Headteacher Louise Simpson says boarding houses at Exeter School in Devon, named after naval heroes Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, will be rebranded as they have “less positive connotations” in modern times. An uproar broke out after the announcement.
Mr Simpson said the change was because the origin of the house’s name was no longer “symbolic”.[ing] School values and inclusive nature”.
Parents attending the £17,000-a-year school were instead told that their homes would be named after local castles, hills and woodland.
£17,000-a-year private school cuts ties with two naval bigwigs, Drake (inset) and Rory (right)
Exeter School/Public Domain
But Exeter graduates were quick to react to the change, questioning Mr Simpson’s “fitness for the job”.
A former pupil told The Sun: “Instead of erasing the school’s history, what adults should do is to let the students think for themselves.”
“This wake-cancel culture only makes people question the suitability of those in charge for the job.”
Several other houses, including one named after Victorian Cross winner General Redvers Buller, will also have their histories “erased” in the switch-up.
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Headteacher Louise Simpson said the figures were “not representative” of the school’s “values and inclusive nature”.
Facebook/Exeter School
This is not the first time that “woke” authorities have targeted these two naval greats. A London primary school named after Drake was subject to a complete rebrand last year due to its links to the slave trade.
A San Francisco hotel named after the explorer was also renamed in 2022 due to its ties to Britain’s colonial past.
Another school in East Yorkshire was accused of removing links to Rory, Drake and even Lord Nelson in 2021 in support of Greta Thunberg and Marcus Rashford in response to Black Lives Matter protests. He was criticized.
Devon-born Sir Francis Drake was the first British man to circumnavigate the world and helped lead British forces against the Spanish Armada.
Sir Walter Raleigh, also born in Devon, was a central figure in the British colonization of North America, and a close advisor and confidant of Queen Elizabeth I.
Although their paintings are proudly displayed next to the Virgin Mary in the National Portrait Gallery, both figures have come under significant criticism in the 21st century for their roles in the slave trade and imperialism.
Alongside Raleigh, Drake and Buller, other names to be removed from the house include Hugh Crossing, Sir John Doe, Elizabeth Dorich, Sir Charles Gough and Wilfred Townsend.
GB News has contacted Exeter School for comment.