A "DEDICATED" assistant headteacher at a Halesowen school took her own life after suffering from work-related stress - an inquest heard.

Charlotte Sparrow, who had worked at Windsor High, took her own life at her home in Haydock Close, Wolverhampton, on March 27 this year.

An inquest held at the Black Country Coroners' Court in Oldbury today (Wednesday June 19) heard the 50-year-old had struggled with work-related stress and anxiety and had been signed off work on March 15.

Senior coroner Zafar Siddique told the inquest she had also been placed on secondment to another school which had caused a "great deal of anxiety and stress."

The inquest heard Miss Sparrow had been taking antidepressants prescribed by her GP and had an appointment arranged with the NHS Talking Therapy scheme - she had spoken to her partner the previous day and her mother about plans for a holiday and seemed okay.

Her partner had been visiting family - she text Miss Sparrow on the 27th - but did not get a response.

When she arrived at the home later that day she found Miss Sparrow’s body.

Emergency services were called but Miss Sparrow was declared dead at the scene.

A post-mortem showed the cause of death was hanging and there were no drugs or alcohol present on toxicology tests.

Mr Siddique said: "She was suffering anxiety and mental health related issues due to anxiety and stress at work."

He added: "Her family said she was a dedicated teacher - extremely hard-working and her death was a massive shock and trauma for all of them."

Mr Siddique recorded a verdict of suicide and offered his condolences to Miss Sparrow's family and friends.

On Linkedin Miss Sparrow is described as being assistant headteacher at Windsor High School and Sixth Form, which is part of Windsor Academy Trust, from Jul 2014.

A Windsor Academy Trust newsletter states that Miss Sparrow had just completed a four-and-a-half-month secondment to Windsor Olympus Academy in Smethwick and was due to return to Windsor High after the Easter holidays.

It states that she had "dedicated over 20 years to making a difference to the lives of students at the school" and that she would be "deeply missed."

The Samaritans can be contacted on 116123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org