School 'not causative' in pupil's death - coroner

A private school was "not in any way causative" in the death of a girl who had anxiety but its use of a safeguarding system was a cause for concern, a coroner said.

Georgia Scarff, 16, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, died from a severe head injury after being hit by a lorry on a local road in the early hours of 15 April 2024, during the Easter holidays.

Coroner Darren Stewart concluded the girl, who was a boarder at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, intended to take her own life.

He also said an initial email to the school about her mental health from her mother was not logged on the school's system, and so was not available to all who may have needed to see it.

This meant teachers or staff who had not been privy to the email may not have known that Ms Scarff had anxiety.

Mr Steward said he would file a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, calling for safeguarding and wellbeing platforms to be used effectively and efficiently.

"The school put in place timely and appropriate measures to support Georgia and was not in any way causative of her death," the coroner told the hearing in Ipswich.

"While I am satisfied the school has an effective safeguarding system in place, I do have a concern that a teacher did not enter that communication.

"This could be an important absence of information which could impact the welfare of children."

The inquest heard Georgia was an "inquisitive, yet quiet, young person" who "possessed great kindness, sensitivity, and the ability to be truly empathetic".

She had a "great love" of design and technology, a passion for geo-politics and was "an accomplished athlete" who "excelled" in rugby, hockey and tchoukball.

"She was a significantly positive force," her family said.

But the inquest heard Ms Scarff did not take too well to life at the boarding school - where fees range from £22,000 and £52,000 per year - after enrolling in August 2019.

She suffered a "difficult transition" and was put on the school's watch list due to the fact her dad had died after being hit by a car while cycling when she was two.

Then, between January 2023 and January 2024, her mother, Jenny Scarff, raised concerns about her mental state, saying she had a "sense of hopelessness".

The court was told she was particularly anxious about her upcoming GCSE exams.

She subsequently had three sessions with a school counsellor, but she "did not present in a way which suggested she was suffering from mental anguish or anxiety".

In the hours before her death, on the final night of the holidays, Ms Scarff spent the evening laughing and watching television with her mother and her sister.

The court heard she had been her "usual self" and her mother had given her a hug and a kiss before bedtime.

But in the middle of the night her mother awoke to a series of "disturbing" messages from her daughter, who had left their home, "which gave her an immediate cause for concern".

She immediately called her and "pleaded with her not to do anything", but to no avail, the court heard.

"I am satisfied that Georgia, although acting impulsively, intended to take her own life," said the coroner.

"Georgia's family collectively mourn the loss of such a talented young person who had so much to offer, and potential to realise."