A passionate grammar school physical education teacher died by suicide after struggling with an overwhelming workload and the prospect of redundancy, an inquest has revealed. Kelly Luscombe, 39, head of PE at Plymouth High School for Girls in Devon, died in February 2025 after being found hanging at her family home. Her long-term partner, James Lister, discovered her after returning home one Sunday morning while their three-year-old son was out.
Lister told Plymouth Coroner’s Court that Luscombe was under immense pressure and that her well-being was not recognized. He described her workload as overwhelming, with 12-hour shifts extending late into the night for marking and lesson preparation, for which she received no extra pay. Despite her fatigue, Luscombe consistently prioritized her pupils and her passion for teaching, not money, according to Lister. She had volunteered for redundancy after the school faced financial difficulties and potential layoffs.
Lister added that budget pressures at the school also led to anticipated cuts in extracurricular activities and a potential impact on the quality of teaching. He stated that Luscombe had "fallen out of love with the school" by this point. He described her as a keen sportswoman, a loving and caring person who gave too much, and someone who found it difficult to say no, often draining herself for others.
Bovey Tracey Cricket Club, where Luscombe served as Women's XI captain, shared a tribute on Facebook, noting her love and admiration from club members and her role in inspiring women and girls to play cricket. The club's flag was flown at half-mast in her honor, and a memorial gathering was arranged.
Luscombe's GP also informed the hearing that she had experienced post-natal depression requiring inpatient treatment and had suffered three miscarriages. Assistant Devon coroner Stephen Covell noted that Luscombe had a history of intermittent depressive episodes since 2013, typically occurring once a year for short durations, but she had been able to continue her work. Covell suggested that she may have been experiencing one of these depressive phases when she died, with her low mood intensified by stress factors, including the uncertainty surrounding potential redundancy. The coroner recorded her death as a suicide. The cause of death was determined to be hypoxic brain injury due to asphyxia and depression. Her organs were donated before life support was withdrawn.