Respected: Pupils took to Twitter to describe Mrs Maguire as an 'inspirational woman' and 'lovely'. One said: 'You were such a caring, funny and hardworking teacher. You'll certainly be missed'

As Mrs Maguire was being attacked, a fellow  teacher raced in and grabbed the boy. Other staff helped to detain him until police arrived.

The middle class pupil, who was described as an ‘outcast’, has a picture of the Grim Reaper on his Facebook page.

Mrs Maguire, 61, was taken to hospital by paramedics after the attack, at  around 11.45am. But she was declared dead on arrival.

Married with two grown -up daughters, Mrs Maguire was a caring Spanish teacher known as ‘the mother of her school’.

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Fellow pupils said she had given the boy a detention last week and he told other pupils she was ‘always getting at him’.

Children at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds were seen in tears as they were collected by their parents later in  the afternoon, after learning of Mrs Maguire’s death.

Nuns based at Corpus Christi Church, opposite the school, were seen comforting pupils in the hours after the killing.   

Police on scene: The fatal stabbing took place at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, West Yorkshire

Belief: A nun comforts a former pupil in Corpus Christi Catholic Church - which is adjacent to the college

'You was the best teacher': Two tributes left at the school - both of which describe Mrs Maguire as 'caring'

The alleged killer comes from a respectable middle-class family. His mother works as a human resources manager for a local firm and his father is a council executive.

A 16-year-old classmate described the teenager as having few friends, saying he had been bullied previously and taken anti-depressants.

The boy was an ‘A grade pupil’ but he disliked Spanish and could not stand  the teacher.

Police described the attack as ‘unprecedented’. Screams were heard through the school, which has pupils aged from 11 to 16. The building was put in ‘lockdown’ when police arrived at the scene.

However, it quickly became clear there was no threat to other children and the suspect was taken into custody.

A woman whose cousin’s daughter was  in his class at the time of the attack said: ‘He had been given a detention a few days earlier and he had told classmates that she had “kept on getting at him”.

‘Another girl I know said she could hear the screaming from the upstairs class. A teacher heard the noise and ran in and grabbed him.’  

Comfort: A nun speaks with pupils and others who knew the 'devoted' teacher outside the school gates

Tragedy: Two nuns talk next to scores of floral tributes left to the teacher

A shocked woman teacher grieves as she reads tributes to her colleague - described as 'the mother of the school'

Pupil Jacob Hill, 16, who had known the alleged attack since primary school, said: ‘He had gone through stages of depression and used to be on anti-depressants. He is really clever and always got top grades.’

The boy was said to have previously been suicidal. Other pupils described him as ‘really weird’.

By contrast, Mrs Maguire was a highly regarded professional who had taught Spanish to two generations of children in Leeds.

Pupils took to Twitter to describe Mrs Maguire as 'great', an 'inspirational woman' and 'lovely'. One said: 'You were such a caring, funny and hardworking teacher. You'll certainly be missed.'

Pupils began leaving flowers at the school gate, with the message attached to the first bunch reading: 'To a special teacher. We was all sad about it. I will never forget you.' 

Gathering: The local community attend Corpus Christi Catholic Church to pay their respects to Mrs Maguire

Memory: Flower tributes were left outside the school, pictured, with one card from a pupil reading: 'A special teacher. We was all sad about it. RIP I will never forget you'

Respect: Another tribute from several pupils at the school said: 'Thanks for everything Mrs Maguire'

Emotional day: Pupils were comforted by adults outside the school gates following the incident

Kerrianne Ayward, 17, said: ‘She was just lovely. She was helpful and caring and you could have a laugh with her. She was always there for you, even if she didn't know you very well.'

Kerrianne, who left the school two years ago, said: ‘She's been my referee for everything, college, everything. There's no one else you would go to who's better. She was the heart of the school.’

Another former pupil, Peter Masefield, 18, said: ‘I just can't understand why her. Of all people. She was the school's figurehead.’

Laying flowers, former pupil Aine Arnold, 17, said: 'It's more like losing a family member than losing a teacher.

'As long as we were happy, she was happy. She would do anything for you.

Talking: A man speaks to two policemen at the gates of the school, which has almost 1,000 pupils

'Remembered': Another tribute left with a bunch of flowers reads: 'A wonderful woman and teacher'

'She helped me personally a lot. She's going to be such a loss to the school.

'Hers were one of those lessons you didn't want to miss.

'She was just lovely. She was wonderful. I am devastated.'

Writing on the website RateMyTeachers.com, one former pupil said: 'She's like the school's own mother! Can be very strict but if you're nice to her she will always be there for you, a great woman!'

Another added: 'I think she's a good head of year, she's always there if you need someone to talk to :)'

West Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Paul Money said yesterday: ‘The alarm was raised by the students in the school, some of whom witnessed the offence.

‘A 61-year-old member of staff was treated by paramedics at the scene then taken to hospital but she tragically died.

‘A 15-year-old pupil at the school was detained by teaching staff immediately after this incident occurred and was taken into custody in Leeds.’

Memorial: More flowers left at the school boundaries - with one tribute reading 'our thoughts are with you'

'Dedicated': Another message to the teacher read: 'RIP Mrs Maguire you were such an inspirational woman'

In memory: Aine Arnold, a pupil aged 17, pays tribute to the RE teacher by laying flowers at the school gates

Sadness: Two nuns comfort a grieving woman as they walk together at the scene

Shock: A parent comforts a child. One pupil wrote online Mrs Maguire was 'like the school's own mother'

He described the incident as unprecedented and said staff he had spoken to were in shock. He also confirmed the victim suffered a number of stab wounds and a knife was recovered from the scene.

The school, which is a specialist technology college, is consistently oversubscribed - and also has 'a strong Christian and community ethos'. 

Its website says: 'The school has a very good pastoral structure, which it is committed to keeping and teachers receive very good back-up support.'

There are nearly 1,000 pupils aged between 11 and 16, and 62 teachers are listed as working there - as well as various academic support staff.

Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon said: ‘We would like to reassure people that this has been an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to pupils or staff at the school.

‘The situation is under control and officers, including safer schools officers and members of the local neighbourhood policing team, are currently at the school and are liaising closely with staff.

Outside: Pupils remained at the school in the afternoon as police said it 'continued to operate as normal'

Statement: Chief Superintendent Paul Money spoke at the scene, describing the incident as 'unprecedented' - adding many staff members were in shock. He confirmed the victim suffered a number of stab wounds

Location: There are nearly 1,000 pupils on the roll at the college (location pictured) aged between 11 and 16, and 62 teachers are listed as working there

Scene: Investigating fficers speak with pupils and teachers outside the school

Inquiry: Police gather outside the school to investigate the scene

Officers: Police stand outside Corpus Christi Catholic College, where a 15-year-old boy has been arrested

Website: The school, a specialist technology college, is consistently oversubscribed - and has 'a strong Christian and community ethos'. There is no suggestion that anyone above was involved in the incident

‘The Prime Minister's thoughts are very much with the victim's relatives as well as the entire school community there, which I'm sure will be deeply shocked,’ the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

In an Ofsted inspection last year the school received an overall rating of two, meaning it requires improvement compared with three or good in a previous inspection.

Areas singled out for improvement included quality of teaching, achievement of pupils and leadership and management. The behaviour and safety of pupils was the only main area of assessment rated as being good.

In its summary of key findings, Ofsted said teaching did not consistently ensure that pupils were making good progress.

It said GCSE results had fluctuated and pupils were not given the opportunity to learn independently.

However, inspectors praised pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and said behaviour was good both in the classroom and around the school.