Harvey Willgoose, 15, was stabbed to death at school with a serrated blade in Sheffield

A 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of murdering Sheffield schoolboy Harvey Willgoose in a knife attack on school grounds.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stabbed Harvey twice — once in the chest and once in the abdomen — in a courtyard at All Saints Catholic High School on 3 February this year. The fatal assault was captured on CCTV.

Harvey, also 15, lost consciousness within a minute and died shortly after. The weapon used was a 13cm serrated-edged hunting knife, which the defendant had brought onto the school premises.

Jurors at Sheffield Crown Court heard that Harvey and the defendant had once been on good terms. Their friendship broke down after a fight between two other pupils, with each taking opposing sides. The fallout escalated on Snapchat, where threats were exchanged.

On the day of the killing, the defendant ignored a friend’s warning to hand over the knife to avoid “doing something stupid”. Instead, he concealed the weapon and carried it into the canteen before confronting Harvey.

After the attack, the teenager told his headteacher, “I’m not right in the head.”

The defendant admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claiming he had “lost self-control”. Prosecutors argued that his actions were deliberate, pointing to his decision to carry and conceal the weapon.

The jury returned a majority guilty verdict for both murder and possession of a bladed article on school grounds after a five-week trial.

Chris Hartley of the Crown Prosecution Service welcomed the verdict:

“We hope that these guilty verdicts bring some comfort to the Willgoose family that justice has been served here today.”

Outside court, Harvey’s sister Sophie described him as “full of life, a warm, funny, caring boy” whose murder had devastated their family and community.

“Our lives changed forever that day. Harvey had a unique ability to bring people together… This tragedy has rippled across the country. People continue to grieve the loss of our beautiful boy,” she said.

She also expressed solidarity with those who witnessed the attack or tried to save Harvey’s life, vowing to continue speaking out about the devastating impact of knife crime.

Detective Inspector Joe Hackworthy, deputy senior investigating officer, urged parents and carers to have open conversations about the dangers of carrying weapons.

“If you suspect your child is carrying a knife or feeling pressure to do so, please speak to them — and encourage them to tell someone they trust if they believe somebody they know is carrying a weapon.”

Following the trial, Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield Heeley, confirmed an independent review will investigate the circumstances surrounding Harvey’s death.

Steve Davies, CEO of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said multiple investigations would now take place:

“Harvey’s death was an unimaginable tragedy for all… We will engage fully and openly to ensure every angle is considered and no key questions are left unresolved.”

The case has renewed calls for urgent action to tackle youth knife crime in the UK, with campaigners warning that more must be done to prevent weapons from entering schools.