Prince Andrew School will be renamed to drop ‘controversial ties’

The Prince Andrew School, the only school on the island, said the decision was made with the approval of authorities on the territory and Buckingham Palace.

“The decision to rename the school stems from several factors, including recent public controversy and negative media coverage,” the school said in a statement.

The name change comes after a string of scandals saw the prince step down from royal duties in 2019.

The school said they want to choose a neutral name that “will foster a positive and forward-thinking learning environment, free from contentious associations.”

“While we respect history, we must also be mindful of how past associations impact the present and future,” the school’s head teacher Phil Toal said. 

“Choosing a new name allows us to honour the contributions of our students and community without the burden of controversial ties.”

Students will be given the opportunity to suggest new names that will be voted on by the entire school.

The school has 537 students and about 160 staff while the island, where Napoleon Bonaparte was famously exiled in 1815, has a population of about 5000 people.

The school’s new name is expected to be chosen within weeks before it is formally launched in September.