‘Stressed’ teacher inquest verdict
APOPULAR teacher who fell to her death from a viaduct took her own life, a coroner has concluded.
Laurian Bold, 31, who lived in Cheadle and taught chemistry at Hollingworth Academy in Rochdale, was diagnosed with severe anxiety and work-related stress after a promotion.
Her body was found at the foot of Rakewood Viaduct on the M62 near Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale, in February.
At the conclusion of an inquest into her death, Area Coroner Lisa Hashmi said there was ‘no suggestion of hesitation’ before Ms Bold fell 140ft to her death.
“Laurian’s actions appeared purposeful,” Ms Hashmi told the court on Thursday.
“I believe that Laurian intended the consequence.”
Ms Bold’s death, Ms Hashmi ruled, could not have been prevented or predicted.
Ms Bold, who was in her ninth year of teaching, was described as a ‘confident and capable’ teacher who helped her pupils achieve outstanding results.
Yet in the months prior to her death, she was signed off sick due to work-related anxiety and stress.
Ms Bold’s mother, Gabrielle Bold, had previously told the inquest her daughter had been overloaded with work and blamed the school for Laurian’s ill health and her death.
The court heard how the school had denied Ms Bold’s request to take her father to a long-term absence meeting.
The academy was also criticised by the coroner for asking Ms Bold to complete a spreadsheet of pupils’ marks while off sick and contacting her via phone calls instead of e-mails.
“That in my view potentially aided the burden of her anxieties and was unacceptable,” added Ms Hashmi.
But overall the school had been ‘entirely reasonable’ in relying on the medical opinions of Ms Bold’s doctors and occupational therapists ahead of her return to work, the coroner said.
She returned to work after counselling on February 25, six days before her sick leave was due to end.
However Ms Bold left the school hours later saying she felt anxious again.
The following day, after staying at her parents’ house in Stockport, she drove to the viaduct and took her own life.
A witness said Ms Bold parked up her car then climbed a barrier and ‘disappeared’.
A post-mortem examination ruled she died from multiple injuries.
Her mother, Gabrielle Bold, speaking after the inquest, said: “I just hope that lessons have been learned from this.
“I just hope that no other teacher or their family ever has to go through what we have been through.”
In a joint statement released by the family, they said the ‘ever increasing standards within teaching led to her becoming ill with severe anxiety.’
Through their legal team, the family added: “Laurian’s family and friends are heartbroken at her death.
“Laurian was a beautiful, kind, caring and thoughtful young woman. Laurian was a keen runner and had completed the Manchester 10K three times, raising money for mental health charity MIND, diabetes and cancer research.”
Hollingworth Academy was contacted for a response. A spokesman said the school would not be issuing a comment at this time.
‘I just hope lessons have been learned from this’