A Lincolnshire school is to drop its 95-year-old logo after the JC pointed out that it symbolised an antisemitic blood libel.

The St Hugh’s School insignia, which features a ball flying over a wall, represents the story of ‘Little Saint Hugh’ who, according to 13th century mythology, was murdered by a Jewish family after he lost his ball over their wall and was invited to retrieve it.

According to former staff member Hugh Martineau, Joan Forbes, one of the school’s founders, “was familiar with the myth while [her husband Ronnie] Forbes asserted that this story should remind his boys to maintain control, both of the ball and where they were allowed to play with it”.

The Forbes family established the school, in the village of Woodhall Spa, in 1925. Former pupils include television journalist David Frost.

Blood libels – false allegations that Jews murdered Christian children in order to use their blood as part of religious rituals - were common in medieval Europe.

Headmaster Jeremy Wyld, who only took up his post this academic year, told the JC he discussed the issue with the school’s governing board and had their agreement that the logo would be changed to remove the circle while retaining the bricks “to reiterate the significance of the educational building blocks”.

This change, he said, would be applied to the website “as soon as possible” and then to the school uniform, signage and printed material, including the prospectus. The results of the review, he added, would “apply to future school branded material”.

Mr Wyld said: “I can entirely understand how the circle on the logo could be inflammatory.

“As a school, we base every element of the education that we offer on fundamental British values and we hold dear the principles of mutual respect and inclusivity.”

Brian Sacks, a retired database administrator and athletics correspondent, said: "When looking into the Saint Hugh blood libel I found out about the school and was deeply upset to see its badge. I wrote to the JC and to the headmaster asking him to change it."  

Mr Wyld said that part of the school programme “includes a visit to the National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Nottingham which complements the work done in school in RE, PSHE lessons and tutorials”.

He added he hoped “our remedial action emphasises the gravity with which I and the St Hugh’s community view this matter.

“I also wish to stress that there is no place for discrimination of any kind at St Hugh’s and any upset caused is deeply regretted.”