School urgently shuts down and pupils sent home after body found on grounds

School urgently shuts down and pupils sent home after body found on grounds

School urgently shuts down and pupils sent home after body found on grounds

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Ben McCaffrey

By Ben McCaffrey


Published: 19/01/2026

- 13:39

Updated: 19/01/2026

- 14:31

Emergency services were called to the school at 10.40am Monday morning

A man's body has been found on the grounds of a school in Wolverhampton, forcing students to be sent home immediately.

Smestow Academy was shut on Monday after emergency services were called to the Windmill Crescent school at around 10.40am.


Police officers, two ambulances and paramedics all scrambled to the school.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are now working towards identifying the man and the circumstances of his death.

A West Midlands Police spokesman told BirminghamLive: "We're currently at Smestow Academy after a discovery of the body in the grounds.

Smestow Academy

A man's body has been found on the grounds of a school in Wolverhampton, forcing students to be sent home immediately

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GOOGLE MAPS

"Emergency services were called at around 10.40am today, and the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"Enquiries are now under way to confirm the man’s identity and the circumstances around his death.

"The school is closing to pupils as enquiries get under way."

Anyone with information that could assist police has been asked to use the live chat facility on the West Midlands Police website.

Alternatively, call 101, quoting log 1452 of January 19.

According to local media, an 11-year-old girl discovered the body this morning when heading outside for PE.

Videos shared online appears to show parents beginning to arrive at the school to take their children homd following the discovery of the body.

The school shut at 1pm.

Smestow Academy

The body was discovered at around 10.40am on Monday morning

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GOOGLE MAPS

Pictures on social media also appear to show police officers cordoning off large parts of the school field with police tape as they continue their probe into the death.

A statement on the school's website read: "School is closing due to an unconnected police incident from 1pm today."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called to a medical emergency in a field on Windmill Crescent, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton at 10.41am today.

"Two ambulances and a paramedic officer responded to the scene where, sadly, one man was confirmed deceased."

Senior members of staff have stressed to local media that everything is under control and students' safety is not under threat.

Castlecroft Primary School nearby have announced they will remain open today, and plan to continue to be open tomorrow, despite the body being found.

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