Ryde Academy pupils were given the opportunity of ‘special support’, following the tragic loss of a former student, Chris Koppany, whose body was found after a major search operation on Saturday.

Vice-Principal, Will Doyle, paid an emotional tribute to Chris, 18, saying that he was ‘a wonderful, intelligent student and talented artist’. Mr Doyle said: “Our immediate thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Chris’s family and friends, during this impossibly difficult time.

“Chris was with us at Ryde Academy since he started secondary school in Year 7, and will be remembered with great fondness by staff and students alike. Chris was a wonderful, intelligent student and talented artist; he embodied the spirit of Ryde as he strived to be remarkable every day.

“He was always willing to support events, whether it be showing around people at open evenings, baking for our Macmillan coffee morning, or building a wooden car prop for a dance show with very short notice; he was uniquely talented in so many ways.

“He had such a bright future ahead of him, having secured a place at The Arts University in Plymouth to study Craft and Material Practices. Chris will always hold a special place in our hearts at Ryde.

“Our focus now is on providing support to the school community as we all come to terms with this heart-breaking news.”

The school’s 6th Form reopened on Tuesday to provide an opportunity for pupils, parents, staff and the wider school community to come together to support each other, access specialist services, and receive information on further support networks.

Mr Doyle added: “In the meantime there are organisations on the mental health and wellbeing section of our website who can offer online or phone bereavement support. When we return from the summer break on September 4, counselling support will be available for anyone who needs it.

“The death of a student is one of the hardest things a school ever has to face. It is always a desperate tragedy, and particularly so under such circumstances. People will react in different ways, and some may not feel the full impact for some time. It’s at times like this that we need to come together as a community, to support and be kind to each other.

“We are fortunate to have such a fantastically strong community, both in school and beyond, and we will all need to lean on each other as we start to understand and come to terms with what has happened.”