Private school students made to write suicide notes

Teachers at an exclusive private school in London have apologised for making Year 8 students write suicide notes as part of an assignment.

A number of parents wrote to Thomas Tallis School and complained that the exercise – which was designed to explore the theme of suicide in Shakespeare's Macbeth – was inappropriate and made students “very distressed”.

“On what universe was it ever a good idea to ask a group of teenagers to write suicide notes?” one parent told a local newspaper.

“At least two classes have done this assignment. My daughter is very outspoken but there are other kids [who are] not as vocal who might be suffering from depression.”

However, the school’s head teacher, Carolyn Roberts, defended the assignment as a “well known method for getting students to understand this dramatic twist in the play”.

Roberts added that during a recent inspection, the school had even been commended for using the exercise.

A statement posted on the school's Facebook page explained the context of the controversial assignment, saying the students were asked to write a suicide letter from Lady Macbeth to her husband about her decision to kill herself.

Roberts said “action had been taken” to ensure that no similar projects were assigned in future after a complaint from one parent.

“We appreciate that the exercise was upsetting to the family and have discussed the subject matter and approach with teaching staff,” she said.

“I met with the parent last week and apologised wholeheartedly on behalf of the school.”