Bullied girl, 14, took her own life after she stopped going to secondary school she 'absolutely hated', coroner rules

Bullied girl, 14, took her own life after she stopped going to secondary school she 'absolutely hated', coroner rules For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support By TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:10 GMT, 21 November 2025 | Updated: 12:24 GMT, 21 November 2025 A 14-year-old girl took her own life after leaving a secondary school which made her feel 'anxious, isolated and alone', a coroner has ruled. Leah Bishop, from Lydd-on-Sea in Kent, was found dead in her bedroom last year after an overdose. A two-day inquest heard she had battled mental health issues at the Marsh Academy before she was withdrawn to be home-schooled. In a devastating final message to her best friend, she wrote: 'I have done something bad. I'm scared'. The inquest heard Miss Bishop had also referenced her unhappiness in multiple notes on her phone. She was part of a young carers club, but 'the school environment made her nervous', and changes in classmates for Year Nine left her distressed. Her mother told the inquest: 'I tried all I could to get her to go but I couldn't. She absolutely hated it. She felt isolated, anxious, alone. She hated secondary school; she was bullied.' Leah Bishop, from Lydd-on-Sea in Kent, was found dead in her bedroom last November While noting doubts expressed by police about whether Miss Bishop intended to take her own life on November 4, a coroner ruled her death a suicide. At the inquest into her death at Oakwood House, Maidstone, coroner Ian Brownhill examined evidence which explored Miss Bishop's state of mind in the run-up to her death. DS Rachel King, from Kent Police's child protection team,said that notes on Miss Bishop's phone had been written 'like a diary'. DS King added: 'In one part, she refers to herself as a bit of a failure. 'What she hoped to achieve wasn't overly clear; she spoke about waking up in hospital. 'I wasn't ever sure she intended to die, or if she hoped she'd be able to get some help.' Miss Bishop was discharged from North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) services in February 2024, though Kent County Council (KCC) was not aware of the full extent of her mental health issues before her death. The coroner said while the authority might have been able to offer more assistance had they known, it was not considered likely to have 'more than minimally caused or contributed to her death'. Concluding the inquest, the coroner said: 'Nothing I say in respect of the following will take anything away from the fact that Leah was clearly a bright young woman who, despite her challenges with school, was able to show promise. 'I hope that you will remember the good things about Leah, her creativity, her brightness. I hope that this inquest won't be the focus of your memory, but rather the positives of her life. 'With respect to Leah's intention in consuming the medication, I have paused significantly when considering Leah's plan. 'And in my mind, when Leah consumed the medication, it was with the intention of bringing her life to an end.' The inquest heard Miss Bishop had also referenced her unhappiness in multiple notes on her phone Speaking after the inquest her mother Tracy Guile said her daughter had been 'full of creativity, love, and kindness'. 'From a young age, Leah showed an incredible talent for art. Her drawings amazed everyone who saw them, each one reflecting her imagination and unique personality,' she said. Ms Guile said Miss Bishop 'excelled at anything she set her mind to', with a passion for anime, music and skateboarding. 'She had a wonderful sense of humour and the most vibrant personality, brightening every room she entered,' she added. 'Her kindness and generosity touched everyone who knew her. Leah was the heart of her friendship group, always making her friends laugh and smile. She brought joy and love to everyone around her. 'Her memory lives on in the art she created, the laughter she shared, and the love she left behind.' Speaking after the inquest, Shaun Simmons, principal of Marsh Academy, said the 'entire community' at the school remains deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Leah. 'Our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,' he said. 'The death of a student is a tragedy that affects our whole school community, and Leah is missed by staff and students alike. 'We remember Leah as a student who had a close circle of friends and enjoyed her time in school with them. She particularly enjoyed art as a subject and is remembered fondly by staff.' Share or comment on this article: Bullied girl, 14, took her own life after she stopped going to secondary school she 'absolutely hated', coroner rules Add comment