A secondary school has been giving pupils lessons on how to shoot live game.

Helena Romanes School, Dunmow, has been teaching sixth formers how to handle 12-bore shotguns, shoot clay pigeons and pheasants as part of a country pursuits project.

Headteacher Stephen Smith said the activities had the support of the parents of the pupils taking part.

He said the pheasant shoot was a one-off event as part of a country pursuits programme.

But parent Kathy Cohen, of Jubilee Court, Dunmow, who has a 12-year-old daughter at the school, said: "I just could not believe something like this was going on at the school. Only a few parents seem to have been told about it.

"I know it is for the sixth formers but it sets the ethos for the whole school. When young people face so many problems already in today's world such as drugs it is appalling to introduce the use of lethal weapons.

"One parent I have spoken to said when her 14-year-old son found out about the shooting he told her he could not wait to join in. Is this the kind of attitude we should be promoting? I think it is utterly wrong.

"I have three more children coming up to secondary school age and if these events continue I will definitely think again before sending them there."

Mr Smith said any future events would be discussed by everyone at his grant maintained school before gaining the go-ahead.

The head said: "Only seven students, out of the school's intake of more than 1,000, were involved in the game shoot of their own volition.

"They were all personally supervised by another adult to ensure their safety and the teacher running the event holds all the necessary certification."

The teacher held a gun licence and was authorised to supervise the group during the shoot on a private estate.

Mr Smith said: "The game shoot was only one part of a whole programme to educate those sixth formers who wish to become involved in estate management, woodland management, game conservancy and other ecological issues."

"Given the school is in a rural area, I am aware that there will be some of our pupils, their parents and other members of the community who will support such an activity. Equally there will be voices of opposition to such a pursuit."

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