Pupil, 15, took his own life after struggling to cope with school’s strict rules, inquest

A schoolboy was found hanged in his bedroom after struggling to cope with his school’s strict rules, an inquest has heard. 

Year 11 student Taylor Lee, from Plymouth, died in November 2023 after complaining that every day was a ‘battle and exhausting’. 

The school which the youngster attended had started an ‘isolation policy’ in the weeks before his death, which saw students punished for being late to class. On one occasion, Taylor was sent for reflection after arriving 47 seconds late. 

He criticised the school for its ‘unlogical’ behaviour policies which prompted his friends to ‘absolutely destroy themselves from emotional overloads in the bathrooms’. 

Taylor was later suspended after telling his headteacher that the rules were wrong. But, after returning, he raised concerns again which prompted the school to allow pupils an extra minute to get to their lessons. 

However, only three weeks later the schoolboy took his own life at his family’s home, leaving a note to his parents saying he felt ‘useless and a failure’. 

Three years on, a coroner has now ruled that ‘punitive school rules’ and a relationship break up were contributing factors in Taylor’s death.

Only a night before he died, the youngster had become embroiled in an argument after cannabis was found in his bag, but he spent the rest of the evening on the Xbox and playing with his guitar. 

Year 11 student Taylor Lee, from Plymouth, died in November 2023 after complaining that every day was a ‘battle and exhausting’

It was just before noon the next morning that he was found dead by his father. In a note Taylor also apologised for what he had done and told his family they would not need to worry about him anymore.  

The family’s lawyer told the inquest his parents were concerned about the impact the stricter school rules had on Taylor and other pupils like him.

An inquest at Devon coroner’s court in Exeter heard there was a ‘mass complaint’ on social media about the rules but the school’s principal Rachel Hutchinson said an investigation by Ofsted and Devon County Council ruled no further action should be taken.

Miss Hutchinson, head of Ivybridge Community College in Devon, said Taylor was a ‘charismatic, very creative’ pupil who loved life and music and talked openly to staff but added he was ‘a complex character’.

‘He did not like school regimes or being in the right place at the right time,’ she added. 

Taylor struggled in relationships with some staff and subjects, according to Miss Hutchinson, who added ‘The bottom line is didn’t like school.’ 

She said the stricter rules came in following a rise in absences from schools as a result of the Covid pandemic. She added that some pupils would be on the school site but not attending lessons.

A system of bells was introduced to prompt students to lessons and they were given six minutes to get to classes. There were also sanctions for not putting away mobile phones and air pods, being late, using toilets and not walking away from staff.

In the weeks before his death, Taylor was given short suspensions for verbal abuse to staff and persistent disruption at the school which has 2,500 pupils.

Miss Hutchinson said the stricter rules remain in place to this day. This came as a concern to the coroner should a similar situation arise again. 

Youth worker Richard Brooks said Taylor did not enjoy school and was disengaged with education and the rules.

She added that Taylor did not mention suicide to him but did say: ‘Every day is a battle and exhausting.’

The school which Taylor attended had started an ‘isolation policy’ in the weeks before his death, which saw students punished for being late to class. The pupil had complained that this caused him to struggle

Area coroner Alison Longhorn recorded a conclusion of suicide and said she would be issuing a Prevention of Future Deaths report.

She said that Taylor’s experience in school had ‘a most significant impact’ which more than minimally contributed to him taking his own life.

Miss Longhorn said skateboard loving Taylor had a history of mental health concerns with low mood and self harming.

She said he was a sensitive boy who found it difficult to understand unkindness and in 2021 he was badly bullied by an older boy who was allowed back to the school and it hit his confidence and self esteem.

He was struggling with mock GCSE exams and had split up with his girlfriend and he did not have a positive relationship with teachers and felt he was going to school but only getting into trouble.

She said Taylor did seek out safeguarding at school but there had been no changes to the college’s policy since Taylor’s death and said the same situation could arise again.

And the principal accepted there had been a ‘missed opportunity’ when a police officer who had dealings with Taylor warned the school about his fragile mental state but did not get a response.

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