Bullied schoolboy kills himself over his exam results - a day before his family discover he passed them all

Michael Miller, 16, was found hanging in his bedroom by his mum Helen Cooper on August 26 last year - just hours before receiving successful GCSE results.

The six foot two inch student had endured physical playground attacks as well as name-calling throughout his entire school career, and had even run away from school aged 12 for four hours, telling police: "If this bullying doesn't stop I'm going to kill myself."

Michael was eventually referred to a special unit for bullying victims but the abuse continued and he became too scared to leave his home alone at night in case his tormentors saw him.

At hid inquest, Coroner Michael Oakley concluded it was more likely worry over his exam results had contributed to his suicide - but this was rejected by Mrs Cooper, 43, who is now considering taking legal action against the school.

Speaking after the hearing she said: "I feel so angry, it seems the school is going to get away with this when as far as I'm concerned they did not deal properly with the bullying and that's why he killed himself. They keep telling me they had a bullying policy but if they did he would still be here.

"They did not take responsibility and help my son. He was an individual and didn't like hanging around in gangs, and I think that's why he got picked on terribly since he started school.

"One day at high school he got kicked and stomped on in the playground so hard it left a footprint on his school shirt. He was regularly kicked and shoved around.

"He would come home and run straight to his room crying because the school wasn't dealing with it. He would tell me or his sisters what had happened. He would beg us not to tell the school because he said it would only make things worse.

"I don't agree with the coroner that it was due to his exam results. Of course he was worried about not passing them but no more than any other school kid. I felt the coroner was pushing aside the bullying issue.

"He probably admitted he was worried about exams twice ever, but he would come home crying twice a week because of the bullies. He didn't deserve to die this way, he was my gentle giant.

"It was vicious physical and mental bullying and it never went away. It's too late for Michael now but I feel I have to do something to stop another parent going through this horror."

Mrs Cooper, who is separated from Michael's father and has remarried, added that he was moved from Barrowcliff Junior School in Scarborough, to Northstead Primary.

But the abuse escalated when he moved to Graham School, a specialist Science and Arts college, in the town to begin his Secondary School career - and fled from lessons in his first year before being picked up by police hours later.

Giving evidence at the hearing in Scarborough, Mrs Cooper said she had no idea of her son's plans to commit suicide.

She said: "I went to check on him at 11pm and when I went into his bedroom and his head fell into my arms. He had hung himself from the door handle with his Boys' Brigade sash."

Michael was pronounced dead later in hospital. His mother later discovered he had passed all his GCSEs and had been offered a college place to study ICT.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Mr Oakley said: "Michael had clearly had problems at school but he appeared to an extent to be able to cope with those problems.

"There is a type of pressure on a schoolchild when they are awaiting exam results and that, in my view, has played a part in his suicide. There is no evidence at all that it relates to previous incidents at school."

Garry Hancock, headteacher at Graham School, said: "Michael was a valued member of Graham School and worked well with staff and students within the School's Support Base.

"He responded well to small group situations and had a positive relationship with students and staff he worked with.

"He had a naturally inquisitive mind and impressed others with a wealth of information and trivia. He had a dry sense of humour. He will be sadly missed.

"At Graham School we have a clear anti-bullying policy which we have developed and is reviewed regularly."