Passionate grammar school teacher took her own life after becoming overwhelmed with 12-hour days and impending redundancy, inquest hears

By JAKE HOLDEN, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:16, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 14:18, 16 July 2026 A passionate grammar school PE teacher hanged herself after becoming 'overwhelmed' with her 12-hour day workload and looming redundancy, an inquest has heard. Head of PE Kelly Luscombe, 39, took her own life at her family home in Bovey Tracey, Devon, as her long-term partner James Lister and their three-year-old son were out one Sunday morning. Mr Lister came back later and made the dreadful discovery of Ms Luscombe hanging in February 2025. She died in Torbay Hospital three days later. He told the hearing that his partner - who worked at Plymouth High School for Girls in Devon - was under 'immense pressure and there was no recognition of her well-being'. Ms Luscombe had had an 'overwhelming workload', he continued, saying that 12-hour shifts extended long into the night with marking students' work and preparing for the next day of lessons - for which she was paid no extra. Despite suffering from fatigue, Mr Lister said the mother of his child had always 'put pupils first', adding that 'she had no interest in the management chain. 'Her real passion was for teaching. She loved it; she did it not for money but for pride.' But Ms Luscombe volunteered for redundancy after it became clear that the school was facing financial hardship and lay-offs loomed over teachers' heads. Head of PE Kelly Luscombe, 39, took her own life at her Devon family home as her long-term partner James Lister and their three-year-old son were out one Sunday morning. She had been struggling with an 'overwhelming workload' at school during 12-hour days Ms Luscombe was Women's XI captain at local Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, which shared a heartbreaking tribute to her on Facebook when she died last February The budget pressures also meant that extracurricular activities would be cut and the quality of teaching would be affected, Mr Lister said. By this point, 'Kelly had fallen out of love with the school,' he said. She had been a keen sportswoman and a 'loving, caring person who gave too much, a can-do person who found it hard to say no', he told the Plymouth Coroner’s Court Mr Lister added: 'She would drain her battery for others. No one has a bad word to say about her; she was loved by all.' Ms Luscombe was Women's XI captain at local Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, which shared a heartbreaking tribute to her on Facebook when she died last February. The Club said: 'It is with very heavy hearts that we share the sad and shocking news with you that our beautiful Women’s XI Captain, Kelly Luscombe, passed away yesterday. 'Kelly was loved and admired by everyone who knew her. From the moment she arrived at our club, she was like a breath of fresh air, inspiring and encouraging so many women and girls to play cricket - we will all miss her desperately.' The club's flag was flown at half-mast at the time in respect, and a memorial get-together was arranged. Ms Luscombe had also suffered from post-natal depression for which she needed in-patient hospital treatment and later had three tragic miscarriages, her GP told the hearing. The school's headteacher Simon Underdown said Ms Luscombe's workload had been adjusted down to two days a week 'to fit her life choices' with her young child. The cause of her death was found to be hypoxic brain injury caused by asphyxia and depression. Her organs were donated before her life support was withdrawn. Ms Luscombe was known to have suffered from intermittent bouts of depression from 2013 onwards, assistant Devon coroner Stephen Covell said, adding that the episodes happened for a short time just once a year but that she could continue her job nonetheless. She may have been in the middle of one of these depressive phases when she killed herself, Mr Covell said, adding that her low mood was intensified by several stress factors. The uncertainty surrounding the potential redundancy she was up for was one of these factors, as she had not yet been selected for it. Mr Covell recorded her death as a suicide.  For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support