Guns Village Primary name change row: Petition launched by parents

A petition has been launched by parents to stop Guns Village Primary School in West Bromwich changing its name.

Headteacher Dawn Cooper has opened consultation with the wider community for the school to change it name as it currently features the word 'guns'.

But a petition opposing the move has now collected a quarter of its target, 250 supporters.

The school's name has historical links with the old area of Guns Village and there has been a Guns Village School in the area since the 1890s.

[comments_cta text="Should the school change its name?"]

In a letter sent out to parents, headteacher Dawn Cooper wrote: "The Governing Body has recently been discussing our school name and decided that, although it is linking with the old area of Guns Village it does not represent what we want to say about the school.

"The news is too full of guns as you know.

"Do we really want our children's school to be linked in this way?

"This is an exciting time to have the opportunity to rename the school and I look forward to your suggestions."

Kelly Plaxon, who set up the petition, wrote online: "We, the undersigned who are parents of current pupils at Guns Village Primary School, past pupils and members of the local community 'strongly disagree' with the proposal. with the current headteacher and governing body's proposal."