'My son was stabbed to death by a classmate but he's still making a difference'

The mum of murdered schoolboyHarvey Willgoosesaid her son is “making a difference” beyond the grave after a local school welcomed a portable knife arch. Next week Penistone Grammar School said the donated knife arch will be erected next Tuesday but would not be a permanent fixture and instead used to spread the word about knife crime.

Welcoming the news, Harvey’s mum, Caroline Willgoose, told The Mirror: “I think this is fantastic for this school to step up and hope other schools follow by example. This is massive to us and this is the first sign that Harvey is making a change.

"I’d like them to be in all secondary schools and colleges. The one place children should be safe is in school. I know that it goes a lot deeper than that but we have to start somewhere.”

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But Caroline says she will not stop until she see change, saying the UK needs to “get knife arches in school” and then get people in to educate children "about the pure devastation knife crime brings.”

Her 15-year-old son was fatally stabbed through the heart by a classmate armed with a 13cm hunting knife. He was murdered in the courtyard of All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield in February this year, just five minutes into his lunch break. A 15-year-old schoolboy, who cannot be named, was found guilty at Sheffield crown court of his murder and is yet to be sentenced. The youth (who cannot currently be named for legal reasons) was also found guilty carrying a knife into school premises at Sheffield crown court.

It was understood the defendant and Harvey had previously been on good terms but fell out over a fight between two other pupils at the same school with each taking opposing sides.

Their fallout escalated on Snapchat, with threats being made between them. Harvey had told his dad he had not wanted to go to school because he was scared there were knives there.

Since Harvey's murder, his mum has been campaigning for knife arches in schools. The mum, announcing the news about the donation on Facebook, told her followers she has had a meeting with the school about the arch launch next Tuesday which will involve Harvey's friends.

In a letter to parents, Penistone grammar school, told parents: “Announcement: Knife Arch Donation and Awareness Event. “We are writing to share some important news with you. We are deeply honoured to be receiving a donated portable knife arch from Caroline Willgoose, in memory of her son Harvey. The donation, part of a wider anti-knife crime initiative, will be formally presented next week...

“Harvey’s friends will visit the school to speak with students about the dangers of knife crime and the importance of community support. The knife arch will not be a permanent fixture but will be shared across the community as an educational tool.

“We must emphasise that there are no current knife issues in school; this is a proactive safety measure. Use of the arch will be handled sensitively and in accordance with our safeguarding procedures. We’re proud to be part of this initiative and we are committed to keeping our students safe.”

Harvey’s mum, who also has two other children, Sophie, 28, and Lewis, 26, previously told the Mirror after the trial how she believes there were “at least five red flags” missed, which could have saved her son’s life.His killer had taken weapons into school before, even posing for a selfie with one. She told us when she heard he’d even taken an axe into school she was left “flabbergasted’.