A YORK schools chief has told fellow councillors of the tragic death of York schoolboy Jamie Bucknell, who collapsed and died in front of his classmates.

Councillor Janet Looker, City of York Council's executive member for education, officially informed her colleagues of the 14-year-old Huntington School pupil's death at the authority's full council meeting at the Guildhall last night.

She said: "The school and the local education authority are working very closely on this issue."

She said counselling had been offered, both to pupils and to the class teacher, whom she said was, "a newly-qualified teacher, who was clearly distressed by the events".

She added: "This is something that possibly would never normally happen in the course of any teacher's career, let alone one who was newly-qualified."

A routine police investigation was launched after Jamie collapsed and died during an English lesson at the school on Monday.

A post-mortem examination revealed his death was due to natural causes, which means an inquest will not be held.

His parents, who live in Brecks Lane, Strensall, said yesterday that they had been told Jamie had suffered from a heart condition.

A memorial service is expected to be held.

Updated: 11:16 Wednesday, November 14, 2001