Sarah Athersmith was quite simply a lovely girl. She epitomised all that is good at Wood Green Academy. She joined the school later than her peers but immediately brought warmth, happiness and loyalty to her new friends. Sarah understood what it was like to be the new person in a large school and for this reason she always went out of her way to welcome younger students with her bright smile and infectious laugh. She was kind, caring, sympathetic and would always be prepared to help others.

Sarah was a huge personality, a real character, who was known by everybody at school. She was a young lady who concerned herself not with what she could take from life, but what she could give. Open Evening was her favourite school event and she would work relentlessly all night as a guide, proudly showing off her school, winning the praise and admiration of all parents who were fortunate enough to meet her. Sarah would then glow with pride when her mum came to collect her and heard how brilliantly she had done.

Sarah recognised when students needed a helping hand and quickly became somebody they could depend upon. Two years ago Sarah was appointed a member of the student leadership team. This role brought her a huge amount of happiness; she wore her lanyard with immense pride and always relished the opportunity to have her voice and opinions heard. Sarah’s presence wasn’t just limited to staff who taught her; everybody experienced her unique sense of humour in one form or another. It is for this reason Sarah found herself a firm favourite at the heart of the Wood Green Academy family.

Sarah perhaps never knew or realised the huge impact of her seemingly small, kind gestures; the offers to do jobs, the simple “hellos” when passing in the corridor, but she touched and enriched the lives of all at Wood Green and we shall never forget them. Sarah was a truly wonderful young lady.
Sarah’s death has shocked and saddened the lives of everyone who knew her but her memory will live on. Sarah will be forever remembered as the honest, bubbly and caring student she truly was. May she rest in peace.
To support the family we have opened a Just Giving page for the associated funeral and memorial costs for Sarah. All donations – no matter how small – will help to make a difference to Sarah’s family.

To make a donation please visit our Just Giving page.