Schoolboy dies after detention illness

A schoolboy has died after he was taken ill during detention at an east London school.

Nasar Ahmed, 14, who had severe asthma, was reported ill last Thursday at Bow School in Tower Hamlets. He died on Monday afternoon.

A post-mortem will take place and the coroner has been informed. The Met said his death was being treated as unexplained.

The boy’s uncle said he was in detention with his friends after lunch.

He said Nasar complained he felt ill and asked to get his inhaler.

He said the school then called an ambulance and his nephew was taken to the Royal London Hospital.

Tower Hamlets Council, which is speaking on behalf of the school, said there was a care plan in place which addressed Nasar’s medical condition.

A spokeswoman said he was in supervised detention with three others in a ground-floor room.

A statement from executive head teacher Cath Smith said: “I am very sad to confirm one of our Year 9 pupils, who was taken ill at school last Thursday, has passed away in hospital.

“The whole school community sends our thoughts and prayers to him, and to his family.

“We will continue to offer support to the family, his fellow pupils and teachers at this very difficult time.

“We will, of course, cooperate fully with investigations into the circumstances of this tragic incident and will also carry out a thorough review of what happened ourselves.” Social services have been informed. The school’s latest Ofsted report said it was judged to be “good and improving”.

It said significantly more students were from minority ethnic backgrounds than in most schools, with the largest group of Bangladeshi origin.

More than three quarters of students were eligible for the pupil premium, additional funding to raise the attainment of disadvantaged students.