School pays tribute after death of teen

PUPILS at a city secondary school have been left shocked and saddened by the death of one of their classmates.

Thomas Deacon Academy Year Nine pupil Aisha Ali sadly died in hospital on Tuesday, May 15, after battling a series of health problems.

Staff and pupils at the school have expressed their shock at her death and have opened up a Book of Condolence giving people the opportunity to pay tribute to the 14-year-old.

Lisa Lloyd, the student achievement leader at the academy’s communications college, said that Aisha had been in hospital since Easter and is thought to have suffered kidney failure.

The school paid tribute to a “shining light”, with Ms Lloyd saying that although Aisha had been in and out of hospital on several occasions, her friends had always expected her to come back.

Aisha joined the Thomas Deacon Academy in 2009 and was described by Ms Lloyd as having “great humour and courage”.

She said: “Aisha was a shining light at the Thomas Deacon Academy from the moment that she joined us in 2009.

“She was always enthusiastic and put her life and soul into all that she did. Aisha was involved in the school’s community and always tackled things head on; the picture shows her creating and marketing cards as part of her Extended Learning Project.

“Aisha always showed great humour, courage and determination.

“She would never be held back by anything and always saw the sunny side of life; we felt that we could all learn from this positive approach to life!

“She will remain in the thoughts of us all.”

The school is currently in discussions with Aisha’s family about the possibility of a commemoration gesture or event to her memory.

Ms Lloyd said that Aisha had ongoing health problems and that while her friends had been hopeful of her return, she never recovered after being hospitalised at Easter.

She said: “She was poorly and so her going into hospital was a regular occurrence, but her classmates always expected that she would be well again so it was a shock for everyone.

“Obviously her friends are really down about it. We have the Book of Condolence set up but we’re talking with her family about doing something longer-term.”