JK Rowling’s name has been dropped from a school house over her “viewpoints surrounding trans people”.
The Boswells School in Chelmsford, Essex, a secondary school specialising in performing arts, had honoured the Harry Potter author by naming one of its in-school houses – associated with the quality of “self-discipline” – after her.
However, it has since emerged that over the summer she has been replaced by the Olympic athlete, Dame Kelly Holmes who has said she is “honoured” by the move and that it is “nice for a school to have a more diverse range of people” as role models.
According to the MailOnline, the school’s issues with the 56-year-old author were laid bare in a newsletter, seen by the news website, featuring an image of the house logo with her name erased.
It said: “The Boswells House System embeds a sense of community, friendship and healthy competition amongst both students and staff.
“A strong house identity empowers our students to participate and thrive in all aspects of school life, both in and out of the classroom. Here at the Boswells we have 6 Houses which are represented by British citizens who have excelled in an area of our Boswells Learning Bridge which includes integrity, emotional intelligence, grit, resourcefulness, self-discipline and bravery.
“However, following numerous requests by students and staff we are reviewing the name of our red house ‘Rowling’ and in light of J.K Rowling’s comments and viewpoints surrounding trans people. Her views on this issue do not align with our school policy and school beliefs – a place where people are free to be.
“Staff have been invited to put forward suggestions of names for the house. Once shortlisted a vote will go out to the whole school to select a new House name.”
