We, parents of , are petitioning Jubilee Primary School to change to the name of the class currently called African Elephants.

The current school’s class names are as follows:

English Lions
Scottish Owls
Spanish Bulls
German Wolves
Italian Ibex
French Hares
American Eagles
Canadian Bears
African Elephants
Brazilian Parrots
Indian Tigers
Chinese Pandas
Australian Kangaroos
New Zealand Kiwis

https://www.jubileeprimaryschool.org.uk/class-pages

Every class is named after a country, except this one, which is named after a continent. This inconsistency unintentionally presents Africa and Africans as a single, uniform entity — something that does not reflect the continent’s extraordinary diversity.

Africa is home to many nations, cultures, languages, and identities. While unity is celebrated, it is equally important for children to understand that Africa is not one country but a rich collection of distinct nations.

Renaming the class after a specific African country would help address this misconception and support more accurate learning.

After speaking with other parents, we would like to propose renaming the class to Ethiopian Nyalas or Ethiopian Bushbucks. 

Ethiopia is widely regarded as the cradle of humankind, and with Juliee Primary being a Christian school and Ethiopia referenced in the Bible over 30 times, these names feel both meaningful and educational. They offer a positive opportunity and inspire students to find out and learn more about Africa, a topic that is often misrepresented or overlooked in historical teaching.

Of course, other African country names would also be appropriate.

We appreciate that any change requires consideration and consultation, and we are happy to provide further information or participate in discussions, if helpful.

Parents