Francesca Candita-Simpkins: 13-year-old girl found hanged after being suspended from school

School accused of ‘failing to consider pupil's mental health’

Francesca Candita-Simpkins

A 13-year-old girl was found hanged the day after being suspended from school for stealing a craft knife.

Francesca Candita-Simpkins was discovered in her parents’ garden shed on April 23, before being pronounced dead in hospital later that day.

Southwark Coroner’s Court heard she had a longstanding history of self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and died after the head teacher at Newstead Wood School in Orpinton, Kent, suspended her for stealing a craft knife from the design and technology department.

According to The Times, she is believed to have stolen the knife to carry out a “blood sisters pact” with a fellow pupil, but was later caught with the blade and suspended for two days.

She killed herself the following day. After discovering the body at her home in Catford, South East London, police also found a half-finished letter in her school bag, in which she apologised to her family for letting them down.

Coroner Lorna Tagliavini said Alison Ross, the head teacher of the school, had failed to consider the teenager’s state of mind before issuing the punishment, despite it being recorded that the she had a history of anxiety and had previously attempted suicide when she took an overdose in November last year.

The coroner said Ms Ross did not consult the girl's family before deciding to suspend her, according to The Times.

Mrs Tagliavini told the court: “Francesca did not present a threat to other students.

“There is no evidence that the head teacher, Mrs Ross, took into consideration any of the evidence. Mrs Ross had already made her mind up and made the decision that Francesca would be suspended. On that basis, I do find that the school’s failings on that part have contributed to the events that occurred.

“In order to be sure that Francesca committed suicide I have to be sure that Francesca intended to harm herself and that she intended to take her own life.”

In returning a narrative verdict, the coroner added: “This was an action of self-harm contributed to by a failure to fully consider the implementation of their major behaviour policy and exclusion policy.”

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