Home / Education / Students Vote to Remove Pepys Name Due to Treatment of Women
Students Vote to Remove Pepys Name Due to Treatment of Women
13 Jan
Summary
- Pepys House at Hinchingbrooke School will be renamed following student vote.
- Students cited Pepys's harmful, abusive, and exploitative treatment of women.
- Historical association with Pepys remains, but house name is changing.
Hinchingbrooke School students have voted to remove the name of Samuel Pepys from one of its pastoral houses. Pepys House will seek a new historical figurehead after a significant number of students cast votes to change the name. This decision follows revelations about the 17th-century diarist's personal conduct.
The school informed parents late last year that new research into Pepys's diaries revealed actions that were 'harmful, abusive and exploitative, especially in his relations with women.' These documented behaviors were deemed incompatible with the school's core values of respect, equality, and kindness.
Principal Andy Hunter expressed pride in the student community's respectful and reflective engagement throughout the consultation process. While the school maintains its historical connection to Samuel Pepys, the specific naming of the house will be updated. Other references, such as the Pepys Building and Pepys Stairs, will remain unchanged.
