The last school in Bristol to bear Edward Colston’s name has decided to change its moniker, saying he would “forever be associated” with slavery.

Colston’s School, which was founded by the 17th century merchant in 1710, will announce its new name next summer.

It comes after a statue of Colston was toppled in the city during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

Last November, the nearby Colston’s Girls’ School announced that it will change its name to Montpelier High School after a vote by staff and students.

Colston’s School, in the Bristol suburb of Stapleton, caters to boys and girls aged three to 18, and charges £15,195 per year in fees. It said the name Colston “will forever be associated with the enslavement and deaths of African men, women and children”.

Nick Baker, the chairman of governors at Colston’s School, said: “After a lengthy period of consultation, consideration, and reflection, it became clear that those with a closer connection to the school would prefer to have a name that was more relevant for the pupils and staff of today and tomorrow.

“It is hoped that a new identity will do more to reflect the values and ethos that the school stands for today and to make it even more welcoming to the local community it serves.”