Head teacher 'proud' of school response after boy's crash death

Freddie Coleman was "friends with a whole range of students", his head teacher said

A head teacher says he is proud of how his school community came together after the death of a popular pupil.

Damian Lee, of Mayflower High School in Billericay, Essex, said Year 11 pupil Freddie Coleman was "friends with a whole range of students".

The 15-year-old died after being struck by a car in the nearby village of Stock at about 08:20 GMT on 3 November.

A permanent memorial would be put in place for Freddie, who was killed on his way to school, Mr Lee said.

A second teenager was treated in hospital for serious injuries sustained in the crash, police said.

Tributes were left to Year 11 pupil Freddie Coleman at the Mayflower High School

Mr Lee said he would never forget hearing the news that two pupils had been seriously hurt and that fellow students and staff members may have witnessed the crash from a bus behind the collision.

He stressed he was "eternally grateful" for the way the staff responded to the tragedy.

"They calmed the students down, spoke to them on the bus and stopped them from getting off the bus and witnessing things you wouldn't want children to see," Mr Lee said.

"There's nothing harder than standing in front of a year group of 270 students to tell them that one of their friends, peers and colleagues had passed away."

Pupils were offered the chance to speak to about 20 experts drafted in to provide bereavement support and counselling at the school, he said.

Freddie Coleman died after being struck by a car in Stock while on his way to school

Mr Lee said Freddie was a "likeable" character who was popular with several social groups within the school.

Mayflower High School now hopes to add a permanent tribute in their memorial garden, which was set up following the deaths of other pupils.

Telling of his pride of the school's response since Freddie's death, Mr Lee added: "It's not a situation that any of us wanted, it was thrust upon us on that day and it was the start of a long journey.

"The support we've put in place for staff and students, I think, has been second to none."

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs in connection with the fatal crash.

Essex Police said he was released under investigation.