A HEADTEACHER said a school had significantly increased its safeguarding measures following the deaths of two pupils.

Ian Lavender, of Windermere School, gave evidence on the third day of an inquest into the death of Fionnuala Ryan, who was found hanged aged 14.

He told coroner Andrew Tweddle that a host of measures had been introduced following the death of the pupil.

She was found dead a month after fellow pupil and friend Pierre DaCosta Noble took his own life.

The 14-year-old was found hanged in the school grounds days after classmates had smeared excrement over his pillow, another inquest heard previously.

Mr Lavender told the hearing at Cockermouth Coroner's Court yesterday that he had not properly anticipated the effect of Pierre’s death and that school leaders had stepped up safeguarding measures after the two deaths.

“I knew absolutely what risk there was,” he said.

“I knew it intellectually but I didn’t know it emotionally in the way that you would not know death until it happens.”

He also said he regretted the way the school held a service following Pierre’s death, not realising at the time the effect it would have on pupils.

The head said the number of boarding houses would be cut from three to two to help matrons work closely with pupils.

He also said more staff were dedicated to safeguarding for pupils and support would be available at evenings and weekends.

Fionnuala Ryan was found dead on December 13 2019, the inquest heard.

“She was my only child,” mum Margaret Taylor said.

"“She was my treasure.

“She wasn’t spoilt, but she knew if there was anything she wanted, anything she wanted me to do, I’d move heaven and earth to make it happen.”

The court heard school leaders could have taken more action following a ‘cry for help’ in the days before Fionnuala’s death.

The pupil was said to have made a ligature and confided in a friend who took the matter to staff.

The school called Fionnuala’s home to inform her parents of this, the inquest heard.

Ms Taylor said she noticed nothing out of the ordinary in Fionnuala’s behaviour between being given the information and her daughter’s death.

Ms Taylor said she believed Pierre had confided in her daughter about bullying he had been subjected to.

School nurse Susan Brown said Fionnuala had gone to see her in the aftermath of Pierre’s suicide and was upset and tearful about her friend's death.

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