A 15-year-old boy has died after being stabbed at a school in Sheffield.

The teenager, named locally as Harvey Willgoose, suffered serious injuries at All Saints Catholic high school, South Yorkshire police said. Despite the efforts of paramedics he died a short time later.

Police said another 15-year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was in custody.

Officers were called shortly after 12.15pm on Monday, and emergency services, including an air ambulance, were dispatched to the scene on Granville Road.

Friends laid flowers on a wall outside the school along with balloons and an England flag.

One handwritten card described Harvey as “the life of the party” who “brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew him”.

“His bubbly personality was contagious, you could always hear him down a corridor,” it read. “I’ll never forget all the torments, all the laughs. You’ll be missed by so many.”

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Outside a local sports club, more flowers had been left, with several heart-shaped balloons and two large red balloons in the shape of the number 15.

An ambulance and police cars were still behind the school gates on Monday evening, where officers in white forensic suits were working into the night.

In a message to parents, the headteacher, Sean Pender, said two students had been involved in the incident.

“I am writing to inform you that today we have dealt with an extremely serious incident here in school resulting in us going in to a lockdown procedure,” he said. “The incident involved two students, one of whom we believe has been seriously injured. All other students are contained and safe.

“I understand the level of anxiety you will be feeling without knowledge of the nature of the incident, but at this time I have limited information to share with you whilst we have police and paramedics on site.” He asked parents for “your prayers and support at this time”.

TheSheffield Heeley MP, Louise Haigh, said “serious questions will have to be answered” after the stabbing.

“Horrific news that the young pupil from All Saints high school has died,” she posted to Facebook.

“All my thoughts are with his family and friends, and the entire community at All Saints. A teenager is in custody and South Yorkshire police have assured parents that there is no ongoing risk at the school.

“A criminal investigation will now obviously take place, but serious questions will have to be answered about how this could have happened and I will be working with the school, the police and the council to make sure they are.”

South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “This morning a teenage boy went to school like thousands of others across South Yorkshire but won’t come home; a young man who was a member of our community, with his whole life ahead of him.

“My love, my thoughts and my prayers are with his family and friends, and the whole community of All Saints Catholic high school.”

Coppard, who has police and crime commissioner responsibilities, added: “The vast majority of our young people don’t carry knives, but one incidence of knife crime is one too many because, when we do see knife crime happen, all too often the consequences are utterly devastating, as they have been today.

“I have spoken to the chief constable and offered her my full support as she carries out her investigation and continues to do everything she can to prioritise tackling knife crime across South Yorkshire.”

It was the second time in a week that the school had been put in lockdown, the Sheffield Star reported. Staff and students were told to “stay put” because of “threats of violence” between a small number of students on Wednesday last week.

Those involved were reportedly escorted off the premises, without any incidents of violence or anyone being injured.

The knife crime campaigner Anthony Olaseinde said he had worked with the school previously and “they have always been forthcoming on the issue”.

“Some schools shy away from the issues, but we have done projects with All Saints, and they have always got involved with us,” he said.

The school has about 1,300 pupils aged between 11 and 18.

Keir Starmer said his “first thoughts as prime minister and as a father are with the family”. He added: “I think the whole country would want to reach out to the family, the friends, to the school, the entire community, in their grief and mourn with them.”

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire police said: “Following a stabbing at a school in Sheffield, a teenage boy has been detained by police and our officers are on scene.

“We would like to reassure parents of pupils that we do not deem there to be a further risk at the school and further updates will be shared when possible.”

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