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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

'My daughter wrote in her diary one last time — then took her life at boarding school'

The devastated father of a tragic girl who took her own life at a £44,000 a year boarding school became 'hyper-fixated' on her first-ever detention before her death.

Caitlyn Scott-Lee, 16, died at Wycombe Abbey School, in Buckinghamshire, last Friday hours after her heartbreaking final diary entry.

The talented year 11 student was found in a wooded area near the playing fields in the evening, not far from the school's sports centre playing grounds.

Her dad Jonathan says in the final diary note, the teenager described how she had run away from a school trip to Eton College as a 'cry out for help'.

Written the night before her death, The Sunday Times report that it read: "I hope this is my last diary entry. I want to kill myself tomorrow."

The talented photographer was concerned about an up-coming detention (Family Handout)

Police are not treating her death as suspicious and the coroner is conducting an investigation.

Mr Scott-Lee, 41, said: "She was mortified to receive a detention.

"To some of us, it is a badge of honour, sitting in a room for two hours to work. But Caitlyn seemed hyper-fixated on the concept of a detention, and it seems she was determined to do anything she could to avoid it."

He dismissed claimed her death was provoked by exam pressure.

Her parents created a website dedicated to the talented teenager, whose passions included photography and nature, as well as the environment.

The touching tribute is to "celebrate a beautiful life" and it read: "Caitlyn was a well loved member of the Wycombe Abbey community and had a particular passion for the theatre, arts, music, and the environment.

Caitlyn's father is speaking to raise awareness following her tragic death (Family Handout)

"Caitlyn was gifted with autism and had an ability to see the world uniquely and thrive at her boarding house. The school community, friends, and family are grieving her loss but we are comforted in her personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

"Caitlyn enjoyed nature, the environment, sustainability, and birds. She would have appreciated potted plants over cut flowers, and support for The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Tributes and donations can be made in Caitlyn’s memory, here: https://caitlyn-scott-lee.muchloved.com

The Mail reported that in an email to parents in Caitlyn’s year the school's headmistress Jo Duncan said: "They are a close year group and, as you will understand, they are very shocked and upset.

"It is an extremely difficult time for everyone and we will do our utmost to provide the additional pastoral care the girls will need."

Wycombe Abbey is regarded as one of the most prestigious girls boarding schools in the UK.

In an open letter written by Caitlyn's dad about the school, he wrote about how his daughter "always had an affinity for the UK" and had wanted to go to boarding school.

Later on he described how she was "thriving and loving it there" even as the rest of the family were in Hong Kong.

A statement from local police said: “Thames Valley Police was called to the Wycombe Abbey School at around 11.40pm on Friday (21/4) after a 16-year-old girl was sadly found to have died.

“Her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”

The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.

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