A 16-year-old boy will face court today charged with double murder after a stabbing at Toowoomba in south-east Queensland.

A 12-year-old girl and her mother were stabbed to death at their home in Newtown yesterday morning.

The girl had been due to return to Glenvale State School yesterday to start year seven.

A local parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the tragedy has rocked the tight-knit community.

“It’s just going to be awful for the kids going to school today, knowing that one of their fellow grade seven students – when grade seven is such a wonderful, important year – has gone,” she said.

“They’re just going to be devastated.”

It is the second tragedy at the school in less than two years.

Another 12-year-old student died in 2012 after reportedly playing a voluntary suffocation game.

Counselling is being offered to students at the school.