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The Mirror
By Jonathan Pickles, Abigail O’Leary
13:43, 6 FEB 2019
Anna McLeod, 32, from Lancaster, was found dead at her home last November after ‘worrying about letting down her school’
An “inspirational” English teacher who told pupils ‘to believe in themselves’ hanged herself after a battle with low self esteem.
Mrs McLeod was a head of year at Our Lady’s Catholic College, and despite being “much-loved” by both staff and students, her husband Robert revealed how she ‘always worried about letting down the school’.
Robert, a design engineer, said: “Not only did she have friends, but she had a good family as well. We all supported each other.
“She loved her job but she was always worried about whether she was letting down the school and her pupils and colleagues. She had a big lack of self-worth and that was the basis of her issues.
“She was beautiful and clever and she would dish out loads of compliments, but never take any for herself.”
Family GP Dr Joanna Smith said: “She was prescribed anti-depressants in June 2015. In 2016, she was given Citalopram.
“In February 2017, she reported that she was feeling well. In February 2018, she was still taking Citalopram. In terms of her history, no previous recordings of self-harm or suicidal thought.”
At the time of the tragedy, headteacher Helen Seddon said Mrs McLeod – known as Miss Brindle in school – was “an excellent teacher” who had a passion for her job and inspired her students.
Ms Seddon said: “She had grown to be an excellent classroom teacher who had a passion for enabling children of all abilities to achieve the very best, but more importantly inspired them so they enjoyed their learning and believed in themselves.
“During her time in school she not only taught English, but was a much-loved form teacher and an excellent, caring year head. She organised a boy’s reading group, led World Book Day events, was a leader of the Duke of Edinburgh and ensured other students got out of the classroom and into the countryside that she loved so much.
“She filled our classrooms and staff room with sparkle, laughter and love. As a school we are heartbroken but we will make sure that she is remembered and that as staff we continue her example to inspire all students to believe in themselves and to know that they are loved so they can be the best that they can be.
“She was not just a talented teacher but a wonderful human being and our school community will be very sad over the coming weeks. I would ask you all to keep her and our community in your thoughts and prayers. Our faith gives us the confidence to know she is now at peace.”
In a statement Mrs McLeod’s family said: “Anna’s greatest achievement was the effect she had on the pupils at school, and the extra effort and personal time that was put into making sure the kids were happy.
“She helped pupils in numerous ways, including with Saturday morning revision and classroom makeovers, and also ensured she celebrated every child’s birthday with cake.
“She was always incredibly self-motivated and hard working, and would always have two part-time jobs or college and a job prior to teaching.”
Coroner James Newman said: “There are three short form conclusions I have to consider. I have to consider whether her death was the result of a suicide.
“To come to this conclusion, I have to be sure that, on a balance of probabilities, she took her own life and did so with intent. I have no difficulty with the first part of that, but not the second.
“The other two short form conclusions I can give are one of misadventure, which is the unintended consequence of an intention act, or an open conclusion, which is where there is not enough evidence to come to a short form conclusion.
“Can I rule out a suicide? No. But I have to rely on the evidence and the intent is just not there. She has not talked about self-harm in the past, although she did lack self-esteem and she could not see herself for who she was. Her intention was not clear in the evidence.”