Members of the local community light candles as they attend Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic church to pray and pay their respects to a much loved teacher, Ann Maguire, 61, who was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils.

A much-loved teacher who was knifed to death in front of pupils was months away from retiring.

Spanish teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was due to retire in September after working at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds for more than 40 years, chair of governors Martin Dowling said today.

Mr Dowling paid tribute to the “wonderful, dedicated teacher”, as did Corpus Christi headteacher Steve Mort, who said Mrs Maguire would have opposed any move towards introducing metal detectors into schools.

The killing of a teacher as she taught her normal Spanish class has prompted calls to look again at security in British schools.

But Mr Mort said his view was that scanning arches were not necessary and people had to remember this was an “isolated” and “unprecedented” incident.

“And I think ultimately Ann Maguire herself, if she was asked that question, would strongly oppose any suggestion that we should have metal detectors in this school,” he said.

Mrs Maguire went to Corpus Christi as a student and, last year, the school held a celebration of her 40 years at the school. This year, Mr Dowling said, she moved to working four days a week ahead of her planned retirement in five months’ time.

Mr Mort said he last spoke to Mrs Maguire yesterday morning after a staff briefing when she was her usual “bubbly” self. “She was enjoying the latter end of her career although I know, to Ann, that her service to Corpus Christi was not a career,” the headteacher said. “She considered it to be a vocation.”

Police are continuing to question a 15-year-old boy who was arrested at the school after he was detained by staff. The school remained opened yesterday and around 750 of the 1,000 pupils turned up for lessons.

A wonderful, dedicated teacher

All have been offered a range of support and Mr Mort said the 30 children who were closest to the incident have been intensively supported.

Those students leaving tonight said it had been a difficult day as they recalled the events of Monday morning.

Tia Hope, 14, laid flowers with her mother Paula.

Flowers are left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds. Photos: PA Wire

“It was just really depressing,” she said. “It was like no one could believe it had actually happened.”

Tia said the head brought the children together in an assembly and told them he was proud of how mature they had all been in the last 24 hours.

Her mother said: “Everyone’s still just so shocked. Mrs Maguire was one of the best teachers. I really feel for her family.”

Other youngsters outside the gates stopped to look at the hundreds of bouquets of flowers which are now spread along a 50-yard stretch of the school’s railings.

They said the school was alive with chat about how the youth who attacked Mrs Maguire walked from the back of the class and produced a knife before stabbing her multiple times.

They said another female Spanish teacher went to her aid.

Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon, of West Yorkshire Police, confirmed that Mrs Maguire died from multiple stab wounds.

He said: “The pupils who witnessed this incident are still being interviewed by specialist officers who are very experienced in dealing with child witnesses and will ensure that their safety is paramount. This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident which has left the school and wider community in a state of shock.”

Mrs Maguire’s death is thought to be the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom, and the first killing of a teacher in a school since the 1996 Dunblane massacre.

Mr Dowling said: “The children have been absolutely amazing this morning. We’ve had assemblies, services and the children have responded in a magnificent manner, as have the staff also.”

Suspect ‘a quiet loner’

Pupils at at Corpus Christi Catholic College said the teenager alleged to have stabbed Ann Maguire was a quiet loner who was a bright, high achieving student.

One 16-year-old girl who was in one of his classes said he rarely spoke and many of his contemporaries thought he was “a bit weird”. The girl said he was an Emo devotee who posted “unusual” things on his Facebook page.

“He was in my class and he would sit on his own and just stare straight ahead,” she said. “No-one really noticed him. That’s why it was such a big surprise.”

Others said he was a bright pupil from a “nice”, middle class family.

“They’re just a normal family,” a teenager said. “Can you imagine what they are thinking today? He’s a smart kid too – all top grades. He was good at drawing too.”

Her friends said: “I think it’s come as a shock to everyone to hear he’s been arrested. I didn’t know who he was until someone explained and I realised I knew him. He’s just a quiet one.”

One 16-year-old who has known the boy since primary school said: “I could not believe it when I heard his name. He is just so quiet. He’s an Emo but he’s an ordinary, quiet bloke.”