A 15-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of teenager Harvey Willgoose, who was stabbed to death at a school in Sheffield.
The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has denied the charge of murder in an appearance at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday.
Harvey, 15, died on February after he was stabbed in the heart with a hunting knife at All Saints Catholic High School on Granville Road.
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC remanded the defendant into secure local authority care and told him that he will go on trial on 30 June.
What we know
Floral tributes left outside All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield after a 15-year-old boy died following a stabbing incident. (PA)
Harvey Willgoose died on Monday 3 February, after he was injured at All Saints Catholic High School in Granville Road, Sheffield, at about 12.17pm.
On 5 February, Chris Hartley, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Yorkshire and Humberside, confirmed that a boy had been charged over Harvey’s murder.
Sheffield Youth Court was told that the knife “went through his (Harvey’s) rib and punctured his heart” following an altercation.
On 6 February, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC set the trial date as 30 June and told the boy: “I am determined that you will be tried fairly, there is no question about that.
“Your trial is going to take place at the end of June, throughout July. Occasionally, young people like you think that it will be a good thing if they sit and wait at the remand home and refuse to come to court.
“If you do that, first it would be very silly, and secondly we will not wait. The case would just go on without you, so please make sure you turn up for every hearing.
Police officers outside All Saints Catholic High School, on Granville Road in Sheffield, after a stabbing incident at the school. (PA/Alamy)
“You have a right to give evidence in your trial. If you choose not to, there may be consequences. You need to consult with your lawyers before making a decision.”
The youth, who sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit, heard that his trial was expected to last four weeks.
Police have urged people not to speculate about the identity of the teenager arrested, warning: “Identifying a suspect can prejudice court proceedings and risk a fair and accurate trial.”
‘My heart is broken’
The day after the incident, Harvey’s mother Caroline and other family members visited the school where flowers, balloons and cards have been left for the popular pupil.
The family said in a statement: “We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful boy, ‘Harvey Goose’. Our lives are devastated and will never be the same again.
“We have lost a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and most importantly, a best friend to all. Harvey will be forever known for being a caring, loving and funny young man. At this difficult time we ask you to please respect our privacy as we grieve as a family.”
Harvey Willgoose’s mother, Caroline Willgoose, at a tribute for her son at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield. (PA)
Earlier, his mother posted a TikTok video to her 56,000 followers with the caption “our Harvey, no words”, adding that “life is never gunner be the same. Love you so much”.
Meanwhile, his sister Sophie posted on Facebook: “My heart is broken into a million pieces I love you so much Harvey. Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight cos I wish I could.”
The trust which runs the school said Harvey was “precious” and “loved”.
A note left outside All Saints Catholic High School on a bunch of flowers from one of the 15-year-old boy’s teachers called him “always polite and friendly”.
It reads: “I only taught you a few times in year 7 but I remember you well. Despite being occasionally a little too energetic, you were always polite and friendly. I am so sorry this has happened.”
Luisa Meco, whose 14-year-old daughter, Ivane, has known Harvey since they were in nursery, called his death “shocking”.
Tributes left outside All Saints Catholic High School after the death of a 15-year-old boy. (PA)
One student, a 17-year-old, said the school’s “lockdown alarm” went off after the incident, and that doors were locked and blinds closed by teachers, which he described as “crazy”.
He paid tribute to Harvey, saying: “He was such a lovely lad, he was cheeky but was lovely. He would make your day better hearing him down that hallway. You didn’t have to personally know him to be upset.
Harvey Willgoose was the victim of a school stabbing in Sheffield. (GoFundMe)
“Teachers loved him, students loved him, everyone loved him. I’ve been at the school for seven years now and nothing like this has ever, ever happened.”
Tributes were paid at the scene of the incident in the days following the attack, with candles, flowers and balloons laid on a wall outside the school.
One note left with flowers called him the “life of the party” with a “bubbly personality”. The note read: “You’ll be missed by many. You beautiful boy. Forever 15.”
Another card left at the scene said Harvey “brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew him”.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in memory of Harvey on behalf of knife crime prevention charity The Ben Kinsella Trust to raise awareness of the issue.
‘We can’t turn schools into fortresses’
There have been reports of a lockdown at All Saints Catholic High School the week before the stabbing. (PA)
The stabbing has sparked a wider conversation about knife crime in schools.
According to a House of Commons research document published in late January, in the year to the end of June 2024 there were 19,903 possession of a knife or offensive weapon offences in England and Wales that resulted in a caution or conviction. Children aged 10 to 17 were the perpetrators in 18% of the cases.
Other figures show that there were 3,900 incidents where knife crime victims needed care from a hospital consultant in the year 2023/24. Of these, 192 involved children under the age of 16, and 463 teenagers aged 16 to 18.
The school had previously worked with a local charity to warn students of the dangers of knife crime.
Knife crime campaigner Anthony Olaseinde said he had worked with All Saints and its pupils had put together a video warning of the dangers of carrying knives.
He said: “Some schools shy away from the issues, but we have done projects with All Saints, and they have always got involved with us.”
A former children’s commissioner for England warned knife crime involving teenagers is a “national crisis that needs a national response”.
Baroness Anne Longfield said: “I wouldn’t like to see teachers in stab vests or body cams or metal scanners.
“We can’t turn our schools into fortresses or heighten feelings of school being a dangerous place. Knife crime instances inside schools do remain extremely rare.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting incident number 327 of 3 February 2025.
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