Mother warns of risk to other students as inquest examines teen’s death near Suffolk boarding school

An inquest into the death of 16-year-old Georgia Scarff heard that her mother believes the family’s concerns about her wellbeing were not adequately addressed at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, Suffolk, and that lessons should be learned to prevent other students from facing similar risks.

Georgia Scarff died after being struck by a lorry on the westbound section of the A14 near her home in Bury St Edmunds, the night before she was due to return to the school for the summer term and her GCSE studies. The inquest was told that she had been on a school watch list but continued to board because of the workload of exams and a long bus journey from home.

On Tuesday, the third and final day of the Ipswich inquest, a nurse who ran the school’s health centre described Georgia as a “very chilled person,” but acknowledged concerns about her plans for A-level study and where she would study those exams. Sister Deborah Sweeney, who has training in self-harm prevention and mental health first aid, said there had been discussions about Georgia’s anxiety, and that the student had asked for someone else to decide where she would study her future exams. The nurse also noted communications about Georgia’s sense of hopelessness, but said in the meetings she did not see cause for immediate concern at that time.

The inquest heard that Georgia joined the Royal Hospital School in 2022 as a Year 10 pupil and initially boarded three nights a week before later staying five nights. School staff interpreted the five-night pattern as a sign that she was coping with life at the boarding school, the hearing was told, though her mother later said she believed Georgia was struggling. Her mother, Jennifer Scarff, told the inquest that she felt Georgia and she were not listened to when raising concerns about wellbeing.

Before the tragedy, Georgia was on a watch list designed to identify pupils in need of support and to provide a tailored health plan. Deputy head and safeguarding lead Zoe King said the school used mapping techniques to identify students who might require extra help and noted that Georgia had experienced the loss of her father, which contributed to her being monitored. The inquest heard that Georgia had faced anxiety around GCSEs and that in January 2024 her mother wrote to the school expressing anxiety that made it hard for Georgia to board, though a teacher said it did not automatically trigger safeguarding concerns because anxiety around exams is common for high-achieving students.

The night Georgia died, her mother received a late-night call and then a 999 call. Minutes later, the family learned that Georgia had died after the vehicle collision. Police analysis concluded that the clothing Georgia wore that night was dark, making her hard to see, and that the driver would have had little time to react. The driver told investigators that he heard a bang, swerved, but had no chance to avoid hitting her. A post-mortem showed Georgia died from a severe injury consistent with a road traffic collision, with no evidence of alcohol or drugs.

Georgia’s mother described her as a diligent student who sought to balance sport, academics and work. Georgia played hockey, rugby and tchoukball, and was on track to complete the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award posthumously. Family tributes remembered her as a capable, “tomboyish” girl who loved geography and current affairs and was determined to build a future for herself. The inquest heard that she had begun to excel in multiple activities and had been awarded GCSE results posthumously.

The inquest also examined the school’s safeguarding practices. The deputy head, Ms King, testified that the school’s safeguarding strategy included mapping pupils’ needs and providing individualized plans, including a watch list for those who required closer monitoring. Georgia’s mother has argued that there was a lack of a holistic, joined-up approach to addressing concerns about her daughter’s wellbeing, and she called for lessons to be learned and for school procedures to be reviewed to reduce risk to other students.

The inquest is expected to deliver its conclusion next month. Coroner Darren Stewart offered condolences to Georgia’s family, saying Georgia showed “promise that sadly wasn’t realised” and acknowledging the pain and anguish suffered by her mother. The family’s spokesman and lawyer said the mother hoped the case would raise awareness and lead to changes intended to safeguard other pupils in similar situations.

The Royal Hospital School, which charges substantial boarding fees, emphasises safeguarding and student welfare as a core element of its mission. At the time of Georgia’s attendance, three-night boarding was listed at roughly £39,735; full boarding was about £49,851 per term, with weekly rates around £45,774 for longer residencies. The school’s leadership has indicated it uses a structured safeguarding program to identify pupils in need and provide targeted support, though the inquest has underscored concerns from the family about whether those measures were sufficiently effective for Georgia.

Support for students in distress remains a priority for schools across the country, and experts say early intervention and clear communication between families and institutions are essential to prevent similar tragedies. As the inquest proceeds, health professionals, safeguarding leads and families are expected to scrutinize what steps can be taken to ensure vulnerable pupils receive timely, holistic help without stigma or delays. The case highlights the ongoing challenge for boarding schools in balancing intense academic pressures with the mental health and wellbeing of young people, and the need for robust, consistently applied safeguarding procedures that listen to students and families alike.