We do not want blood on our hands

Gill Gildenberg, teacher

The school's head of English Gill Gildenberg said: "I never thought I would hear myself saying this but we do have take a responsible attitude.

"It really does worry me that we could be endorsing violent feelings.

"It is something which children would readily identify with.

"It is about an unemployed individual who seeks recognition by killing.

Kitchen knife

"It is a very powerful poem - but that is my point, we do not want blood on our hands."

The poem was written by Glaswegian-born writer and philosophy graduate Carol Anne Duffy.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), the largest examination board in the UK, has included the book in its study list for 15 and 16-year-old students in 2004.

Accompanied by a picture of a kitchen knife stuck vertically into a block of wood, it begins: "Today I am going to kill something, anything.

'Playing God'

"I have had enough of being ignored and today I am going to play God..."

It goes on: "I squash a fly against the window with my thumb...

"I am a genius, I could be anything at all with half a chance but today I am going to change the world...

"I pour the goldfish down the bog, I pull the chain, I see that is good, I see the budgie is panicking.

"There is nothing left to kill, I get out the breadknife and go out."

Ms Gildenberg has written to AQA to complain.

But George Turnbull, spokesperson for AQA, said: "We are sorry for any offence.

"It is a poem selected by teachers and was approved by the government watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

"It is a fictional view of an adolescent's feelings.

"Pupils can do the course without touching the work."