She was an inspirational teacher who never gave up on her pupils. As Corpus Christi College in Leeds mourns Ann Maguire, her death raises many questions – not least about security in schools.
Earlier, Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon, of West Yorkshire Police, said a teenager custody in connection with the incident will be questioned by officers “at some point during today”.
He told reporters: “Given his young age, this is a process which needs to be handled very sensitively, and may take some time to complete.
“The pupils who witnessed this incident are still being interviewed by specialist officers who are very experienced in dealing with child witnesses and will ensure that their safety is paramount.
“This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident which has left the school and wider community in a state of shock.”
Read more: lessons to be learned from death of a much-loved teacher
Mr Beldon, who is leading the investigation, said the forensic examination of the scene has been completed. The school remained open on Tuesday and pupils and staff were being offered specialist support.
Ann Maguire’s death is thought to be the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom, and the first killing of a teacher in a school, since the 1996 Dunblane massacre.
This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident which has left the school in a state of shock – Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon
Martin Dowling, chair of governors at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, said Mrs Maguire, 61, was due to retire in September and had been working only four days a week.
Speaking at a press conference outside the school, Mr Dowling said there had been “no indications at all” that it would happen.
“Ann was a wonderful, dedicated teacher and will be remembered fondly by all of us,” he said.
“She had taught at Corpus Christi for 40 years and touched the lives of many people in the local community, having also taught the parents of some of our current pupils.”
Chief Inspector Nik Adams, who leads neighbourhood policing in the area, paid tribute to all the staff and pupils for coming in.
He said: “This is an horrific incident. It’s unprecedented nationally but very much in this local community. It’s something which has caused a great deal of shock and distress, as you can imagine.
“This is very much an isolated incident. This is not part of a wider problem that exists locally here.”
He said the school had been found to have “absolutely no issues in terms of weapons”.
Steve Mort, the headteacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College, where Ann Maguire taught, says she would have “strongly opposed” any idea that pupils should have to pass through metal detectors as they arrive at school.
“I would want to remind people that this is an isolated incident. It’s a tragedy. It’s unprecedented. It wouldn’t be in keeping with the community.
“We’re a very open community and our doors are open to the local community.”
Mr Mort said he last spoke to Mrs Maguire yesterday morning after a staff briefing.
“I found Ann to be her usual self. She was bubbly, she was a character who enjoyed being in the school community.
“She felt comfortable with staff and with colleagues.
“She was enjoying the latter end of her career, although I know, to ann, that her service to Corpus Christi was not a career. She consiered it to be a vocation.”
On Monday night, hundreds of pupils, former students, teachers and parents filled the Corpus Christi church next to the school in order to pay respects to the teacher.
Floral tributes, photographs and other memorabilia have been left at the gates of the college.
I just can’t understand why her. Of all people. She was the school’s figurehead. Peter Masefield, 18
Former pupil Kerrianne Ayward, 17, said: “She was just lovely. She was helpful and caring and you could have a laugh with her.
“She was always there for you, even if she didn’t know you very well. No-one had a bad word for her – I mean no-one.”
A neighbour of the teenager held by police is reported to have told the Mirror that he was “a bit of a loner”.
David Cameron paid tribute to the teacher on Monday, saying: “This is a profoundly shocking, indeed absolutely appalling, incident. Everything that can be done to help this school get to the bottom of what happened will be done. I think that we have to wait for the investigation to see what exactly happened.”
There are nearly 1,000 pupils on the roll at Corpus Christi, aged between 11 and 16, according to the school’s website.
Parents speaking outside the school on Monday night night said it had a very good reputation, and despite being located in a challenging area, families competed to send their children there. When it was last inspected by Ofsted it was rated “good” with many outstanding features.
The inspectors said: “Students, parents, carers and staff are rightly proud of this harmonious and caring school which has embedded itself in the very heart of the community.”