Courtney Lee’s 14-year-old daughter, Ollie, died by suicide in October 2024 following years of sustained bullying at Barnsley Academy in South Yorkshire. Ollie, who was born Willow and began exploring her gender identity at age 13, faced harassment from classmates that escalated over three years, both in school and online.

Ollie, who preferred to be called by her chosen name, was subject to verbal and physical abuse from multiple groups of students. Courtney described incidents including having her hair pulled, glasses destroyed, and being called derogatory names. The bullying extended beyond school grounds through social media and gaming platforms, where messages told Ollie she should not have been born.

Despite Courtney repeatedly raising concerns with Barnsley Academy, she said she felt the school’s response was inadequate. While some sanctions were applied and “time-out” spaces offered, these measures proved ineffective as bullies continued targeting Ollie. The school did not activate a Safety Support Plan — a formal framework designed to protect vulnerable pupils.

Ollie’s mental health deteriorated markedly, leading to self-harm and two suicide attempts. She was seen by medical professionals and was referred to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the school counsellor, and a local support agency. Courtney said she observed a focus on managing Ollie’s behavior rather than holding bullies accountable. Eventually, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Education Welfare Service issued a warning threatening prosecution against Courtney for non-attendance when attempts were made to keep Ollie out of school to protect her.

Ollie returned to school with a reduced timetable in early 2024, but the bullying persisted. After returning full-time, Ollie informed the school counsellor she felt suicidal, though Courtney was not made aware of this due to a lack of information sharing between the school and CAMHS. Mental health services closed her case in March 2024, deeming her low risk.

Following a relatively positive summer, Ollie encountered further hostility on a school trip in September 2024 when she was hit with plastic bottles by classmates. Within days, she ended her life, leaving a suicide note apologizing to her parents. After her death, online abuse directed at Ollie continued, prompting police action that resulted in cautions for two teenagers.

An inquest held in May 2026 raised concerns about Barnsley Academy’s processes for assessing risk related to student safety. The school’s governing body stated it would review its procedures to prevent recurrence, but did not provide further comment when approached again recently.

Since Ollie’s death, Courtney Lee has campaigned for reforms aimed at improving the protection of vulnerable students. She has drafted a manifesto for schools focused on bullying prevention and launched a petition calling for better coordination and information sharing among schools, local authorities, mental health services, and safeguarding agencies.

Courtney, now expecting a child with her new partner, said she hopes her efforts will ensure no other family suffers a similar loss. She described Ollie as a creative and compassionate young person whose life was cut short by bullying and inadequate institutional support. “No child should die at the hands of bullies,” she said.