School apology over 'suicide note' (From The Oxford Times)

School apology over 'suicide note'

5:51pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

A school has apologised and says it will review its communication with parents after a pupil wrote a letter in a creative arts class which his mother believed was a suicide note.

Wesley Walker, 14, composed the letter during a lesson at Stoke-on-Trent's Discovery Academy after pupils were asked to complete a piece of writing imagining that they had only hours to live.

His mother Vicki said she found the exercise "sick". The hand-written note said: "I want you to remember the fun times and the happy times, at my funeral make everyone were (sic) bright colours to remember my personality.

"I know I have been a pain at the best of times but I'm with Nan and Grandad now so I love you and goodbye."

Mrs Walker, from the Longton area of the city, told the BBC: "I really felt like I was going to find him hanging from his bed and maybe he felt he couldn't take any more.

"I spoke to him and he said it was something they were asked to do at school, I felt it to be really sick.

"I just don't think schools should be asking children to write things like this especially when it can be seen as a suicide note, I don't agree with it."

The school's headteacher Rob Ridout said: "The Discovery Academy wishes to apologise for the distress the parents and family have experienced.

"The purpose of the lesson was to enable young people to explore their feelings and emotions and celebrate the many good things with their loved ones that are usually left unsaid. Many students and parents found the exercise valuable, however we will review how we communicate to parents in the future."

Mr Ridout said a meeting with Wesley's parents had been arranged.