A primary school pupil was left severely shaken after discovering a man's body on her school's playing field on a foggy Monday morning.
Grim Discovery Before PE Lesson
The incident occurred at around 10am on Monday, 19th January 2026, at Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton. The 11-year-old girl, a Year Seven pupil, was on her way to a physical education class when she made the distressing find near the goal posts on the school field.
Her father recounted the moment, stating his daughter phoned her mother "screaming" to report what she had seen. "She’s only 11 years of age," he said. "They went out for PE and it was very foggy this morning. It's left her really shaken up and we've come to take her out of school early. It's terrible what she's had to see."
School Closure and Police Investigation
In response to the discovery, police instructed Smestow Academy to close for the day to allow their investigation to proceed without disruption. Authorities are working to establish the deceased man's identity and the circumstances surrounding his death.
The school confirmed in a statement that the incident was "unconnected with Smestow Academy." They added: "A body was found at the edge of the grounds and enquiries are now underway to confirm the man’s identity and the circumstances around his death. Police asked us to close so they could make headway with their investigation."
Support for Affected Pupils
The school has confirmed it will reopen as usual on Tuesday, with the police having concluded their initial on-site work. To address the psychological impact on students, the school has planned a series of measures.
Pupil assemblies will be held throughout the morning to offer reassurance. Furthermore, the school has emphasised that any child affected by the event can speak with their Head of House, who will provide access to specialist support and counselling. This offer of support was echoed in social media comments from the community, with one parent noting on Facebook that counselling had been offered.
The school's statement concluded: "The police have now given us the go ahead to open as usual tomorrow. There will be pupil assemblies throughout the morning to reassure them. If your child has been affected, they can speak with their Head of House who will be able to provide specialist support."
