Exclusive:'I don’t want to live anymore' Barnsley teenager said after years of bullying at school, inquest told
“She was loved beyond words”
An inquest into the death of a 14-year-old heard she had endured bullying at school for years.
Willow Lee - who went by Ollie - passed away at home on October 6, 2024 and in the years since, her mum Courtney has battled to get stricter bullying laws introduced in schools.
“My daughter Ollie was an extraordinary young girl,” Courtney said in a statement which was read out in court.
“She was loved beyond words.”
Mary Potter, the safeguarding lead for Barnsley Academy, which Willow attended before she died, shared details of the teenager's journey through secondary school.
She detailed a number of incidents, including two within six days in which Ollie had self harmed on school premises.
The second saw her taken to A&E, with mental health support sought, after the teen shared concerns about bullying during her time at school, the inquest heard.
Despite support, Ollie went on to make a number of attempts to take her own life prior to her death.
The safeguarding lead explained how throughout her first year at school, in 2021, Ollie experienced repeated peer issues with reports of unkind names being shared and an incident of what was called “pinching”.
She explained that this was “common behaviour,” adding that children are “establishing themselves within a school” and building new friendships in a larger surrounding than they’d previously experienced at primary level education.
In April 2022 a bullying incident was reported, where a member of staff witnessed a child deliberately throwing hard sweets at Ollie, the inquest heard.
Then in September 2022, at the start of the new academic year, there were reports of a group of boys bullying Ollie for being autistic.
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Throughout the first few months of year eight, the bullying continued to worsen, with reports of students running into her and pushing her.
The safeguarding lead described a separate incident, adding: “[There was] a male student who called her a name and suggested women don’t deserve to have any rights.”
Bullying became “homophobic,” the inquest heard, until things escalated into a situation where Ollie was attacked on her way home from school, with video footage capturing one child saying that the youngster “should’ve been aborted”.
She referred to a “pattern emerging,” with bullying continuing. One individual told Ollie to “hang yourself”.
In November 2022 Ollie’s behaviour became “more alarming,” the safeguarding lead explained, adding the teen had suggested “it might be better if she was not part of this world”.
Family were consulted, and mum Courtney was advised to refer her daughter to the now defunct voluntary counselling service TADS and to contact the teen’s GP.
Support in school was also offered.
Bullying incidents continued into the new year, and in March 2023 she was seen crying in a lesson and after being taken out Ollie reported that another child had smacked her around the side of the head.
After returning to school in September 2023 for year nine, Ollie was found to have harmed herself in class.
Just six days later, a further self-harm incident in school saw her taken to A&E.
Ms Berry asked if at this point there should have been a risk assessment written, to which the safeguarding lead responded: “At this stage, quite possible yes.”
It was also asked if a school safety support plan - which would focus on physical safety within school - should have been put in place at this point.
“Yes,” the safeguarding lead whispered.
When mum Courtney asked why this wasn’t introduced, she said: “I can’t give you an answer on that.”
She did however say that the school provided appropriate support for Ollie at the time.
Bullying incidents continued and Ollie continued counselling in school and was offered additional support, including opportunities to attend different spaces during social time.
“On November 23 [Ollie] had stated to the school counsellor that on November 21 she had attempted to kill herself,” the safeguarding lead told the court.
Family was subsequently made aware of this, and passed on the information to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), where the teen was being assessed for counselling at the time.
While details shared in counselling sessions remain private, it was explained that safeguarding concerns are passed on.
Shortly after this incident, on December 4, ambulances were deployed to the school after Ollie had told a friend online that she had taken pills.
When asked why she did this, the teen replied: “Because I don’t want to live anymore.”
She was taken to A&E and Courtney expressed her intention to homeschool Ollie moving forward.
Ollie was off school for a number of months after this, and following discussions with a council appointed family support worker she returned to Barnsley Academy in February 2024 with a bespoke timetable that was intended to support her wellbeing.
In October, a month after returning to school for year 10, Ollie tragically died.
The inquest continues and is expected to conclude on Friday, May 8.