The “woke” headteacher of a top private school has sparked outrage after removing references to “non-inclusive” British historical figures from school buildings.
The row erupted after head Louise Simpson announced boarding houses at Devon’s Exeter School, including those named after naval heroes Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, would be rebranded for having “less than positive connotations” in the modern day.
Simpson said the changes were due to the houses’ namesakes no longer “represent[ing] the values and inclusive nature” of the school.
Parents at the £17,000-per-year school were told the houses would be named after local castles, hills and woodlands instead.
The £17,000-per-year private school is scrapping ties with the two naval greats, Drake (inset) and Raleigh (right)
Exeter School/Public Domain
But Exeter alumni were quick to react to the changes, even calling Simpson’s “suitability for the job” into question.
A former student told the Sun: “Instead of erasing the school’s history, the mature thing to do is let the pupils think for themselves.
“Woke cancel culture like this just makes people question the head’s suitability for the job.”
Several other houses, including one named after Victoria Cross-winning General Redvers Buller, are also set to see their history “erased” in the switch-up.
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Headteacher Louise Simpson said the figures were did not “represent” the school’s “values and inclusive nature”
Facebook/Exeter School
It’s not the first time “woke” authorities have taken aim at the two naval greats – a London primary school named after Drake was subject to a total rebrand last year for his association with the slave trade.
While a hotel in San Francisco also named after the explorer was renamed in 2022 due to his links with Britain’s colonial past.
Another school in East Yorkshire came under fire in 2021 for dropping links to Raleigh, Drake and even Lord Nelson in favour of Greta Thunberg and Marcus Rashford in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.
Sir Francis Drake, who was born in Devon, was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, and helped to lead English forces against the Spanish Armada.
Sir Walter Raleigh, also Devon-born, was a key figure in England’s colonisation of North America, and was a close aide and confidante of Queen Elizabeth I.
Paintings of the two men take pride of place next to the Virgin Queen in the National Portrait Gallery, but both figures have seen significant criticism in the 21st century for their role in the slave trade and imperialism.
Alongside Raleigh, Drake and Buller, other names set to be removed from houses include philanthropists and benefactors Hugh Crossing, Sir John Daw, Elizabeth Dowrich, Sir Charles Goff and Wilfred Townsend.
GB News has approached Exeter School for comment.
