Mother warns of risk as inquest reveals safeguarding concerns after teenager killed by lorry near elite boarding school

A 16-year-old girl was killed when she was struck by a lorry on the A14 near her Suffolk home, the inquest into Georgia Scarff’s death heard on Tuesday, prompting renewed questions about safeguarding practices at the Royal Hospital School, a private boarding school where she was preparing for GCSEs and Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Georgia Scarff joined Royal Hospital School in Holbrook in 2022 and, according to evidence presented at the Ipswich inquest, was on a watch list used by the school to monitor pupils who may need additional support. Her mother, Jennifer Scarff, told the hearing that Georgia had begun boarding five nights a week in 2022 after initially staying three nights, a change staff interpreted as her coping with school life. Jennifer Scarff said she felt the family had raised concerns about boarding and Georgia’s wellbeing, but that they did not feel listened to. The family’s representatives described Georgia as a hardworking student who excelled in sport and who was months away from sitting her GCSEs when she died.

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The inquest heard that Georgia had been experiencing anxiety and panic attacks in Year 11 and had accessed the school nurse and counselling services. Her mother said Georgia reported difficulties communicating her needs and that the family worried there remained a risk to her wellbeing if existing school procedures were not reviewed. Natasha Taylor, who represented the family, said Georgia and her mother felt that they were not listened to when concerns were raised, which Georgia herself described as a sense of hopelessness about how she could cope at school. The family’s case is that lessons can be learned and processes should be reviewed to ensure a more holistic, joined-up approach to safeguarding.

Sister Deborah Sweeney, a nurse who manages the school health centre, told the hearing she had spoken to Georgia about anxiety and noted that the student described herself as a “very chilled person.” She said Georgia asked for help with decisions about her studies, particularly where to study her A-levels, and that Georgia’s communications contained references to hopelessness. While Sweeney acknowledged that the communications suggested distress at times, she said there was nothing in recent meetings that gave her cause for concern. The hearing also noted that Georgia’s sense of hopelessness had appeared in written communications, but the nurse emphasized that Georgia presented confidently in person during meetings.

Georgia’s death occurred on April 15 last year, the night before the start of the summer term when she would have returned to the Royal Hospital School for the summer term and to prepare for GCSEs. The coroner heard that police analysis found Georgia’s dark clothing made her difficult to see and that the driver of the HGV tractor unit had very little time to react. The vehicle was within the speed limit and there was no evidence of the driver’s hours being breached. The driver said he heard a bang and swerved to the right, adding that Georgia gave him no chance to avoid her. A post-mortem concluded the death resulted from severe injuries in a road traffic collision, with no alcohol or drugs detected in her system.

The inquest also explored the school’s safeguarding framework. Deputy head Zoe King, who is the safeguarding lead, explained that the school used “mapping techniques” to identify children in need of support and to tailor healthcare plans. Georgia’s name appeared on a watch list because she had lost her father, and a journal entry in January 2020 noted self-harming thoughts if she returned to school. Ms King described how the school supported Georgia after those concerns and noted that Georgia’s boarding pattern had shifted to five nights a week in 2022, which she interpreted as progression in coping with school life. She said the school believed Georgia was managing, but the inquest heard that her mother had concerns about how such signs were interpreted and acted upon.

Georgia’s mother described her daughter as her best friend and her “right-hand woman,” a capable sports student who had already earned Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards and was progressing toward Gold. The family’s tribute highlighted Georgia’s talents in hockey, tchoukball, fitness training and rugby, and described her as kind, thoughtful and tenacious. They said she had a bright future and that her potential would now remain unrealized. In a January 2024 message to her form tutor, Georgia herself described anxiety and sickness tied to the GCSE workload and asked for help in managing the stress, though her tutor said she did not raise formal safeguarding concerns because anxiety in GCSE students is common and often not a safeguarding issue absent other red flags.

The inquest has heard that the family sought a broader view of Georgia’s life and well-being by sending her to boarding school with the expectation of wider life experiences. They have indicated their aim is to raise awareness among friends and relatives about safeguarding and to prompt schools to review procedures so that other pupils do not experience similar difficulties. Coroner Darren Stewart offered his condolences to Mrs Scarff and noted Georgia’s promise and the pain her loss has caused. He is expected to deliver his conclusion next month. In the meantime, authorities emphasise the need for ongoing vigilance and robust support for students transitioning into and within boarding environments, particularly when they are dealing with mental health and anxiety-related issues.

The hearing also serves as a reminder of the sensitive balance between safeguarding and the academic pressures faced by students in elite boarding schools. Mental health resources and safeguarding procedures are central to protecting students who may be at risk, and the case has drawn renewed attention to how schools monitor, respond to and review concerns raised by pupils and their families. For those seeking confidential support, the Samaritans can be contacted at 116 123 or via samaritans.org. The inquest’s final conclusions are due to be issued next month.