The only high school on the British Overseas Territory of St Helena will undergo a name change to dissociate from Prince Andrew. The current Prince Andrew School has decided to rebrand with the backing of local authorities and Buckingham Palace, citing controversies and negative media attention surrounding the prince as key motivators for this decision.
The school aims to adopt a neutral name that promotes a positive educational environment, free from contentious affiliations. Headteacher Phil Toal emphasised the importance of recognising the school’s history while also considering the implications of past connections on its present and future. He stated that selecting a new name will allow the institution to honour its students and community without the weight of past controversies.
To involve the student body in the process, students will have the opportunity to propose new names, which will eventually be voted on by the entire school. With approximately 537 students and 160 staff members, the new name is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks and will be officially implemented in September. St Helena itself has a small population of around 5,000 residents.