His headteacher at the Royal Latin School in Buckingham, has been the first to pay tribute to the teenager.

You can pay your tribute to Sam at the end of this article.

In a letter to parents, he said:

I am writing to inform you of some very sad news. One of our students – Sam Bradley in Year 11 – collapsed and died suddenly whilst playing football yesterday afternoon.

I met with Year 11 first thing this morning to inform them of the news and to outline the support available to them in school. Subsequently I met with all other year groups.

We have taken the Head of Year 11, Miss Gahagan, off timetable today and set aside a quiet room in Brookfield House for students.

Other students have spent time at the local church and some have gone home. Lessons are taking place as usual and normal school routines continue as far as possible – this is important in helping the students to come to terms with what has happened.

Obviously we are keeping a particularly watchful eye on those students and staff who knew Sam well.

We are also aware that those with recent losses or bereavements may find the news particularly difficult and we will seek to support them.

Students who return to school may need sensitive support and someone to talk to and we will aim to provide this.

We have arranged for a Book of Condolence to be made available for students and staff to record their memories of Sam.

I know that some students have already written letters that will be sent to Sam's family at a later date.

We have reassured the students that people respond to sad news in individual ways; whatever their reaction we will aim to support them.

The guiding principle is that the best people to support and help at the moment are members of the school community who are known to the students.

Sam was a splendid individual who will be remembered as a confident and pleasant student with great potential. He will be sadly missed.

Yours faithfully
Robert Cooper
Headteacher

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