Rachael Booth

On the morning of Wednesday 14 October 2026 Rachael Booth suffered a heart attack while at The Willows School. Staff fought to resuscitate her and she was taken to hospital, where her condition was described as critical. The school closed while she was treated.

She died on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Her death was announced that evening by Warren Carratt, chief executive of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, in a message on the school website, in which he said that the actions of school staff had meant her family and friends were able to be with her during her final days. The school closed for the rest of the week and was due to reopen on Monday 2 November 2026. Floral tributes were left outside the school, many tributes were posted online, and the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Haroon Rashid, said he was deeply saddened and offered his sympathy to her family, friends, colleagues and pupils. Her age has not been published, and funeral arrangements had not been announced.

Details of Rachael Booth's early life, including her date and place of birth, have not been published in reports of her death. Before leading The Willows she worked as a teacher, and tributes from former pupils published by the Rotherham Advertiser recalled her as a much loved teacher at Valley School in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

Rachael Booth spent her working life in education, much of it with children and young people with special educational needs. She became headteacher of The Willows School, a special school on Locksley Drive in Thurcroft, Rotherham, which is part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust and includes a Post-16 provision.

Parents, staff and former pupils described her as an amazing and inspirational head who knew her pupils and their families well. One former colleague credited her with the skills and encouragement that shaped her own career, and spoke of carrying on Rachael's vision for the school. The trust's chief executive, Warren Carratt, called her the school's "energetic, compassionate and inspirational headteacher."

Under her leadership pupils from The Willows Post-16 group became the first official visitors to the Mayor's Parlour at Rotherham Town Hall after Councillor Haroon Rashid was elected Mayor, presenting him with a hand drawn card that he displays in his office.

Rachael Booth was married and had sons. Her trust's chief executive said she had a deep and devout faith. Tributes also recalled her helping out at a local youth club.

Rachael Booth is remembered by the families of The Willows and her former pupils as a head who changed young lives. Nexus Multi Academy Trust said the school community would come together when the time was right to celebrate everything she brought to the children, families and staff of The Willows.