How would a school deal with death of a former student?

[whatandthesky]

Someone who left secondary school around 10 years ago has suddenly died, he went to the school from the start of year 7 all the way to sixth form. How would you expect the school who this person went to to handle their death. By that I mean should the school be informed and if told how would the school react? Would they send a representative to the funeral?

The person who has sadly passed away is not someone I know but someone a friend went to school with. I'm asking because my friend is wondering if she should let the school know about his death.

I don't think it would be usual to tell the school.

Unless a current student or really recently left, ie a year or so, I’d wouldn’t expect anything from them at all. Nor would I notify them of the death x

I wouldn't really expect them to do...any...thing?

He was out of school a good long time; he won't have friends now at the school who would need support. Unless anybody at the school now has a social relationship with him as an adult, in which case they'll hear anyway no doubt, there really isn't anything for them to do. They have their hands full enough with their current pupils.

This happened recently at the school I work at, several members of staff went to the funeral eg form tutor

I mean - no? Why would you? What is the cutoff for this if so - age 40? 50? I'm pretty sure at least 10 of my school year cohort have died.

After 10 years, no. 2 or 3, maybe.

The school would be unlikely to do anything. If it's a current pupil, there would be appropriate responses, but not for someone who attended so long ago.

I don’t think it would cross my mind unless they were still actively involved in the school.

As a primary school, we send a representative to the funeral of the child died by suicide or illness or accident in secondary school. Nothing is done if the former pupil is adult when they died.

I suppose it depends if they have current links to the school. Did they help out with sports or something like that.

Having said that, I have attended funerals of ex pupils. If it was someone who had been in my form, I’d want to know.

Unless they have an alumni programme, I wouldn't think to notify them.

I went to a former pupil's funeral 6 years ago and I would still go now for some of my ex-students - it's been 10 years since I left. It might be nice to let the school know in case any of his former teachers want to go but I wouldn't expect them to do anything formally.
It's a kind thought though and I would appreciate it as ex-staff.

There will be staff that remember the student. When I was working in education deaths of past pupils was announced at the staff meeting.

Was this person a member of the alumni organisation? That would be an appropriate body to inform but presumably his next of kin would take on that task.

It would depend on how long ago really.

We have had past students die. We are an infant school and the child had moved on to a juniors. The child died about 3 years after leaving us. We were told, we had younger siblings at our school, and some teachers did go to the funeral.

It would be fairly normal for the family to inform the school, especially if there had been particularly close relationships, but normally only within a few years after. Whether anyone went to the funeral may depend on the relationships of the teaching staff still working at the school and how much contact they had with the child/family. But ours is slightly different being infants - so within a few years the past student is still going to be a child.

I don't see why the school would want to know, unless he/she was an exceptional student or very well known by staff and current students in some way? My kids school has 2500 pupils, most of whom aren't even known by most of the staff while they're there, never mind 10 years later.

Wouldn't even notify the school or expect them to do anything.

Better to let them know imo, then they can decide what they want to do.
I went to an RC sixth form and we were occasionally asked to attend funerals of former students. We were always thanked profusely for attending, and tbh it gave us an amazing sense of community.
As a mourner, it’s always been amazing to see the variety of people who feel sufficiently moved by a person as to attend their funeral. It really means a lot to the families.

We go if they die at secondary school and often parents ask us to speak

We dont all go (unlike a death of a current pupil)

Nothing. I would expect representation only if they were a current student at the school.

Nothing

I don’t think the school would do anything or where would it end? All of their former pupils will die eventually.

The school friend went to always announces when a former member of staff has died as she follows the school on Facebook, so friend thought they might do the same for a former pupil.

I think part of the reason is because he was so young and died in sudden and tragic circumstances.

I would expect the head to inform the staff. Perhaps a member of staff may attend the funeral but unlikely with the current staffing issues. A form teacher may write to the person’s family if the form tutor is still around.