EXCLUSIVE: Teachers at murdered Sabina Nessa’s school on struggling to support children while shocked and grieving themselves

Staff at the school where murdered Sabina Nessa worked have been trying to cope with their own grief while also being strong for the pupils.

Sabina, 28, was found stabbed to death near the OneSpace community centre at Kidbrooke Park Road, Kidbrooke, on Saturday at 5.32pm by someone looking for a lost ring.

Police now believe the teacher at Rushey Green Primary School in Culverley Road, Catford, was attacked at random on her way home and her body dumped in a meadow – where she lay undiscovered in Cator Park,for almost 24 hours.

She had taught first-year pupils – aged five and six – for most of the school day in all subjects at a school of 600 pupils and about 70 staff. Support has been offered from educational psychologists and headteacher Lisa Williams has spoken to classes individually.

One teacher at the school, who did not wish to be named, said: “No one and nothing can prepare you for this – the first anyone knew was when we arrived at school on Monday morning.

“It is awful enough when someone dies. This is so much worse. It is impossible to even comprehend – that she suffered in the most violent way. We were sitting beside her on Friday – then this.

“The Year Two pupils, who she had last year in Year One, will be the most upset – and their parents.

“Everyone is supporting each other. But it is hard for teachers to reassure children who are nervous about being at school for the first time – while they are themselves putting on a brave face while consumed with grief themselves.”

The National Education Union’s Lewisham branch, of which she was a member, met on Wednesday night, held a minute’s silence in tribute to Sabina and have written to the school expressing members’ shock and dismay.

Branch secretary Duncan Morrison added: “Staff would be given the opportunity to reflect and spend time thinking about Sabina. We would always try to listen – the last thing people in shock or grief want is to be told what to do.

“It is hard even for an adult to comprehend what seems to be the senseless murder of a young woman. Her pupils are so young, which makes it all the more difficult. It is hard even to explain to the oldest children at a primary school.

“She was only just starting to build relationships with the new Year One children. The class which will experience it most will be those she taught last year. She had a strong relationship with them.

“The crucial thing is to give them space to feel what they are feeling. But at that age, they have limited language to express it. We would say it is OK to cry and share your feelings – but if they do not want to, that’s fine too. It is a terrible thing to deal with.”

Her family have been left struggling to understand what has happened.

Her cousin Zubel Ahmed told ITV News: “She’s been attacked on the way home and she was five minutes away from here walking home her usual route that she’s been taking for the last few weeks where she’s been working from school to home, going back and forth.

“She was due to go and see her family at the weekend and even that… she couldn’t even do that one last time unfortunately.”