Headteacher: ‘Murdered teenager was lovely, bright and well-liked’

The headteacher at the school attended by murdered teenager Katie Edwards has paid tribute to the “lovely, bright and well-liked student”.

Will Scott, headteacher at Spalding’s Sir John Gleed School, said the school community had been “shocked and saddened” by the death of the teenager, whose body was found at her home in Dawson Avenue on Friday alongside her mother Elizabeth Edwards.

In a statement released this afternoon (Tuesday) Mr Scott said: “Naturally we are devastated, and our thoughts and prayers are with friends and family at this extremely difficult time.

“Katie was a lovely, bright and well-liked student.

“She was a keen and talented young rower and, as a member of the school rowing squad, demonstrated a huge generosity of spirit as a true team player.

“She seemed the kind of girl who would help anyone with anything. We are all trying to come to terms with her tragic loss.

“This is going to be a tough period for our students and staff, and we are doing everything we can to ensure everyone gets the support they need in the coming days and weeks. We are working to identify those likely to be most in need of additional support, and specialist bereavement counselling will be provided.

“We have had fantastic support from Lincolnshire Police, who are providing updates on the investigation, and from the Local Authority.

“I understand that people will have lots of questions, but I would like to ask that anyone with any concerns or issues surrounding this investigation contacts the police in the first instance. This will allow the school to come to terms with this tragedy and get back as close to normal as we can, as quickly as possible, for the sake of the whole school community.”