A HEARTBROKEN mum has spoken about losing her beloved daughter – and told how she believes academic pressure led to her untimely death.

Toni Connell, 15, who attended The Ockendon Academy, South Ockendon, passed away last Wednesday.

Distraught Amanda Connell, 46, told the Thurrock Gazette: “I have lost a big part of my life and I put it down to the school putting so much stress on my daughter.

“I am worried this pressure will continue at the school and other children will suffer. I don’t want another mother going through this.”

Mrs Connell said the night Toni died they had been discussing how the school had told the students they would not be allowed to sit maths exams at the A and B level, only at the C level.

Toni, who had her heart set on going to drama school, needed a B in Maths to get in. The night she died the last thing she had been doing was writing her application to the drama school.

Mrs Connell of Frances Gardens, South Ockendon, added: “Children at the school are told they will never amount to anything in life if they get less than As and Bs. The pressure just mounted up.”

Mrs Connell said her daughter had also suffered cyber-bullying, which included death threats and other abuse on Facebook.

Toni’s death comes six months after another student at the school, Temidayo Joseph, took his own life after receiving his GCSE results.

A school spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that we are coming to terms with the death of Toni. The whole school community is deeply affected by this tragedy.”

Headteacher Barbara King was unavailable for comment.

Thurrock Gazette:

A police statement said: “Specially-trained officers have been providing support to Toni’s family. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Paramedics and the air ambulance attended Toni’s home, but were unable to revive her last Wednesday.

She was first taken to Queen’s Hospital, Romford, then transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital where she later died in her mother's arms. 

A date has not yet been set for the inquest.

The Gazette tried to contact John Kent, the council’s cabinet member for education, and Ofsted. But we didn’t receive a comment from either.

Second tragedy at school

Thurrock Gazette:

OCKENDON Academy pupil Temidayo Joseph, 16, died last year – just hours after collecting his GCSE results.

Known to friends as Dayo or Simon, the popular boy, pictured, was believed to have recieved poorer grades than he had hoped for.

His death was not treated as suspicious by the police.

At the time, a statement on the school website read: “We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Dayo’s family, friends and the whole school community at this difficult time.”