A 15-year-old boy accused of killing Harvey Willgoose with a hunting knife at a Sheffield school has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, Sheffield Crown Court heard today.

The teen, who cannot be named, also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and not guilty to murder.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC remanded the defendant, who stood in the dock with an intermediary and three members of security staff, into secure local authority care.

Judge Richardson said: “You have pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the other offence relating to a knife.

“A jury will decide whether you are guilty or not guilty of the more serious allegation of murder. That trial will start on June 30 at this court.”

Harvey, also 15, died after he was stabbed through the heart at All Saints Catholic High School on February 3.

Harvey’s parents, Caroline and Mark Willgoose, watched the proceedings from the public gallery, along with other members of their family.

The parents of the defendant were not seen in the courtroom.

Judge Richardson added a warning to those watching that the defendant is entitled to a fair trial and said: “I don’t want him in a state because of what happened outside or in a state where he can’t be trialled.”