STUDENTS and staff at a Kent grammar school are in mourning following the death of a 16-year-old pupil.

Jenna Lester, who attended Fort Pitt Grammar School at Chatham, died suddenly during the half-term break at King’s College Hospital, London.

The popular student was studying for her GCSEs. The Year 11 pupil was a promising sportswoman and was named athlete of the year at the school in November 2005.

Pupils were left in tears when head teacher Julia Bell broke the news during an assembly and have been receiving counselling since.

Mrs Bell said: “Everyone at the school is devastated. “Jenna was an excellent athlete and a very creative young woman. She was a great friend to many and very popular with fellow pupils and staff. Jenna was expected to do very well in her GCSEs and nobody expected this at all.

“Many staff are involved in talking to students and pupils have also been invited to talk to professional counsellors.”

Staff plan to create a memorial garden in the school grounds where students can go to remember Jenna.

Jenna’s funeral will be held tomorrow at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, at noon.