Caroline, the mother of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose who was stabbed to death at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield, has spoken of her ongoing grief 421 days after the attack. She described waking up every morning with a pain in her stomach, unable to move, after dreaming of her son.
Harvey was stabbed through the heart with a 13cm hunting knife by fellow pupil Mohammed Umar Khan, also 15, outside the school canteen. Caroline recalled the moment she received the news and the hope she felt when the police car slowed down, thinking he was 'alright'.
In the family home, Harvey's bedroom remains untouched, his school shoes still out and clothes on the ironing pile. In the garden, the football nets are still up and the ball remains on the grass. Caroline said she cannot bring herself to remove these items, as she never wants to leave her son behind.
The family's grief has been compounded by an independent review commissioned by the school trust, which found 'several missed opportunities' to address behaviour and manage risk before the stabbing. The review revealed that records from Khan's previous school, which included incidents involving violence and weapons references, were not requested or reviewed before his move.
Caroline expressed guilt over urging Harvey to attend school despite his fears, saying she felt she led him 'into the lion's den'. She questioned the lack of protection and checks by the school, noting that if Khan's phone had been examined, his 'unhealthy interest in weapons' might have been discovered.
Khan was convicted of murder and detained for at least 16 years. The school trust has said it will implement the review's recommendations, which include mandatory record sharing of pupils with a history of violence.
