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Louise Hodson, executive head teacher of Greater Manchester Independent School, said Ibrahima's infectious energy "lit up every room" and his death had left a "huge hole" in the school community.

This is the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that independent school pupil numbers have fallen.

Rudd was employed by Plymouth College, an independent school, until 2017.

"We're a British independent school but sitting firmly within Nigerian cultural needs," says John Todd, head of Charterhouse Nigeria.

He had a scholarship offer at Wisbech Grammar, a nearby independent school, but with family finances and siblings to consider he didn't take it up.