Specialist support for school following murder of 12-year-old pupil in Birmingham

A team of specialist counsellors and mentors are supporting children and staff at a Birmingham school, as a community comes to terms with the murder of a 12-year-old boy.

Leo Ross died in hospital on Tuesday evening, hours after he was found with a stab wound near Scribers Lane in Hall Green, shortly after 3pm.

A 14-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of Leo's murder is still in custody.

Christ Church Church of England Secondary Academy, where Leo was a pupil issued an update to parents confirming the suspect is not a student at the school.

In a message on its website, the school said: "To update everyone now we have clearance from West Mids police, we can confirm that the suspect has never been a student at Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy.

"We are in close contact with the bereaved family and with their permission we are opening a book of remembrance for students and the community to celebrate and to honour his life. We are also working with the family to plan a memorial service and memorial.

We have had a team of educational psychologists, counsellors and mentors in school to support the students and staff and will continue to offer support for as long as the children and staff need this."

In a statement issued yesterday (22 January), Diane Henson, executive headteacher, described Leo's death as a tragedy.

She said: "Leo was a lively and happy young man. He had many very good friends who he absolutely adored, and they adored him.

"He was just a lovely and bright member of the school community. We're supporting the children at school and are opening a book of condolence with the family's permission.

"Our thoughts are with Leo's family and all his friends today."

Dozens of school friends visited the entrance to The Shire Country Park to lay floral and other tributes in Leo's memory on Wednesday afternoon.

The friends also placed candles on the ground spelling out his first name.

Chief Superintendent Richard North, Birmingham Local Policing Area commander, said: "This is an appalling and senseless attack. We are doing everything we can to support the loved ones of the young boy who lost his life in such an appalling way, but we know that nothing we say or do will diminish their agony.

"We will be carrying out reassurance patrols locally and if any of the community have any information or concerns we would urge them to come forward.

"We continue to work day in day out, with parents, schools, carers and other partners to educate young people on knife crime and its devastating consequences.

"This work must and will continue. Today, our focus is on the family of the young boy who has lost his life in such a tragic way, and ensuring we get justice for him and his family."

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