© Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesHundreds of floral tributes have been left in honour of teacher Ann Maguire, who died after being stabbed in her classroom.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a school teacher stabbed to death in front of pupils in Leeds earlier this week.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged three days after being restrained by teachers at Corpus Christi Catholic College in the Halton Moor area of east Leeds.
He will appear in front of Leeds youth court on Thursday, the crown prosecution service said. The hearing will be closed to the public though journalists will be allowed to attend.
A statment from the CPS said: "A 15-year-old male was arrested in connection with this incident and has been interviewed under caution by police."
The boy has been charged with killing Ann Maguire, 61, a much-loved Spanish teacher at the school. Maguire was due to retire this summer after 40 years service at the school. She died in hospital on Monday after coming under attack in her own classroom, with horrified pupils raising the alarm.
On Wednesday police continued to question children who had witnessed the incident.
The pope offered sympathy to Maguire's friends and family and all those affected by the tragedy.
Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, on Wednesday asked for the message of "sincere sympathy" to be conveyed on behalf of himself and the pope.
In a letter to the apostolic administrator of the diocese, Monsignor John Wilson, Menni wrote: "I assure you of my prayers for the repose of the soul of Mrs Maguire and for the consolation and strengthening of all those persons close to her and all those who mourn her sudden death. May the Lord grant her eternal rest and the reward of her life of dedication and of service to young people and to education."
On Wednesday the school's head, Steve Mort, praised students as he viewed the mass of floral tributes which have accumulated since Maguire's death on Monday morning.
He said: "I am immensely proud to be headteacher at Corpus Christi.
"Our children have proven themselves to be great ambassadors for the school. And I want to pay particular tribute to them and to the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by our staff at this very difficult time."
It has emerged that Maguire, who was described as a "wonderful, dedicated teacher" by the school's chairman of governors, raised her two nephews following the death of her sister.
Maguire, who is understood to have two grown-up daughters of her own, brought up Andrew and Daniel from a young age after their mother, Eileen Poole, died from cancer.
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