I am extremely sorry to inform you that one of our students in Year 10, Fraser Bennett, died yesterday morning. Together with Mr Freeman and Mrs Walters, I met with Fraser’s family yesterday evening.  Understandably, they are devastated, and it is with their agreement that we are sharing this very sad news with you.

I know that this will come as a terrible shock to the Prince Henry’s community, and that students and staff will be extremely upset.  Fraser was a very popular young man, with many friends across the year groups.  In the words of his teachers he was ‘a delight to have in the class’, he ‘worked with a quiet determination’ and he was ‘a very kind and polite student’.  Fraser was a keen sportsman, regularly playing for the school’s rugby, football and cricket teams.  At last year’s Speech Day, he was the inaugural winner of the Ian Parkin Prize for Valour.

The school has been liaising with the Local Authority, the police, and we have taken advice from Winston’s Wish and The Samaritans.  I have spoken with Year 10 students in a special assembly this morning and I know that we will all support each other in the coming days.  The whole school community is currently receiving counselling support from the Local Authority and The Samaritans.

We are closely liaising with Fraser’s family, and will be making no other comment.  I would ask the community to respect the privacy of the family at this very sensitive and sad time.

Fraser will be a shining star in our hearts forever.  May he now rest in peace.

Dr Tony Evans, Headteacher

23rd January 2020