Plymouth teenager’s suicide linked to school discipline and break-up

An inquest heard that 15-year-old Taylor Lee, from Plymouth, died by suicide in November 2023 after struggling with school rules he described as exhausting. The coroner concluded that punitive rules and a relationship break-up contributed to his death, and said his experience at school had a significant impact.

Ivybridge Community College had introduced tighter behaviour measures, including sanctions for lateness; on one occasion, Taylor was sent to reflection after arriving 47 seconds late. He was later suspended after challenging the rules, and the school added an extra minute for pupils to reach lessons. The coroner said she would issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report; the school’s principal said the measures followed increased absence after the pandemic and remain in place.