Death of teenager after illness at school 'unexplained'

The death of a 14-year-old boy who was taken to hospital after falling ill at school is being investigated by police

The Year 9 pupil at Bow School in east London was taken to hospital after becoming unwell last Thursday and died on Monday, Scotland Yard said.

The BBC reported that the boy was severely asthmatic and was in detention when he became ill.

Bow School is a mixed secondary school with around 500 students aged 11 to 18.

In a statement the school's executive headteacher, Cath Smith, said: "I am very sad to confirm that one of our Year 9 pupils, who was taken ill at school last Thursday, has passed away in hospital.

"The whole school community sends our thoughts and prayers to him, and to his family.

"We will continue to offer support to the family, his fellow pupils and teachers at this very difficult time.

"We will, of course, co-operate fully with investigations into the circumstances of this tragic incident and will also carry out a thorough review of what happened ourselves."

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "We were informed on Sunday November 13 that a child was being treated in an east London hospital after being taken unwell at a school in Tower Hamlets on Thursday November 10.

"On Monday November 14 the 14-year-old boy died. His next of kin have been informed.

"The death is being treated as unexplained at this time."

She added that a post mortem examination would be carried out.

Its last Ofsted inspection gave it a Good rating in 2013. It changed its name from the Bow School of Maths and Computing to Bow School in February 2013 and moved to its current site in Twelvetrees Close in 2014.