A 15-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on his way to school this morning in West Norwood.

A second boy was knifed in the arm but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Three boys have been arrested after the killing near Park Campus School on Gypsy Road after police were called around 8.50am - the victim was airlifted to a South London Hospital but died shortly afterwards.

The school is a specialist unit that deal with troubled pupils with emotional problems. It was launched two years ago and is thought to be the first school of its kind in the country. It is described on a Lambeth authority website as a specialist facility providing education for up to 80 11- to 16-year-olds who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

He is the 13th teenager to be killed in London this year.

Head teacher Richard Leonard said:

"This is a terrible tragedy and the whole school is in shock.

We will be providing all the support we can to pupils and their families as the school community tries to come to terms with this awful loss."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said:

"A murder inquiry has been launched after the death of a 15-year-old boy in south London.

Police were called at 8.50am to reports of a male assaulted in Gipsy Road Gardens, SE27.

Police, London Ambulance Service and an air ambulance attended the scene to find a 15-year-old male suffering multiple stab wounds. Police, London Ambulance Service and an air ambulance attended the scene to find a 15-year-old male suffering multiple stab wounds.

He was taken to a south London hospital and confirmed dead shortly after arrival.

A post mortem will be arranged in due course.

A second teenager was also stabbed in the arm during the incident.

He has been taken to a south London hospital with minor injuries.

Detectives from Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) are investigating."