An “exemplary” teenage student was found dead at a boarding school weeks after her GCSE exams.

The body of Caitlyn Scott-Lee, 16, was discovered in woods near a playing field at the £44,000-a-year Wycombe Abbey School in Buckinghamshire on Friday night.

Her parents, Jonathan and Tara, paid tribute to their “gifted and unique” daughter in a statement.

They said: “Caitlyn was a well-loved member of the Wycombe Abbey community and had a particular passion for the theatre, arts, music, and the environment.

“Caitlyn was gifted with autism and had an ability to see the world uniquely and thrive at her boarding house. The school community, friends, and family are grieving her loss but we are comforted in her personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Caitlyn enjoyed nature, the environment, sustainability, and birds. She would have appreciated potted plants over cut flowers, and support for The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.”

Jonathan Scott-Lee is a banking technologist and neurodiversity ambassador for HSBC in Ontario, Canada. His wife, Tara, is an accountant for Buckinghamshire Mind, a mental health charity.

Mr Scott-Lee, whose parents are from Hong Kong and Malaysia though he himself is British, wrote an article on the school website praising the establishment, founded in 1896 and set amid 160 acres of conservation grounds.

The article, written two years ago, explains how their daughter, one of three children, “had an affinity for the UK” after being through “different education systems” as the family moved around with work.

Mr Scott-Lee says his daughter “had it in her own mind … to go to boarding school”.

He added: “During our time in Singapore, Caitlyn was always the one working hard to get into a boarding school.

“We did extensive research from abroad and looked at the top boarding schools in the UK and Wycombe Abbey in the UK was a great fit for Caitlyn.

“However, it was Caitlyn’s exemplary work ethic and motivation that led to her [sic] eventually gain a place at Wycombe Abbey UK.

“She is very much thriving and loving it there. Beatrice will start September 2021 in the same year group as well, Upper Third, and she is excited to be starting the same Wycombe Abbey journey as her older sister.”

Andrea McCubbin, chief executive of Buckinghamshire Mind, said: “We are deeply saddened by this news, and we offer sincere condolences to her family and friends. We are of course providing all the support we can to the family at this difficult time and are working with them to help in any way we can.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said officers were called to Wycombe Abbey School at around 11.40pm on Friday, April 21, after a 16-year-old girl was found dead.

He added: “Her death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”

It is understood the Buckinghamshire coroner opened an inquest into her death on Wednesday.