A mum-of-three has been left outraged after her son was sent work home from school to plan his own funeral.
Activities for the 13-year-old to complete included picking out a coffin and choosing whether to be cremated or buried
Gemma Marston, 34, received the homework for her teenage son, Brody.
The religious studies homework was given to year eight students at St Paul’s Catholic School in Leicester during lockdown.
Concerned mum, Gemma, from Leicester posted a picture of the form on Facebook to express her outrage.
The mental health worker said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the homework.
“I had to do a double take and re-read the worksheet.
“I understand schools need to discuss death as part of the religious studies curriculum, but a 13 year- old child having to think about planning their own funeral is appalling.
“I was livid to say the least.”
The form gave pupils choices for their own funeral arrangement and they needed to give reasons why, including picking their own favourite music or hymn and choosing flowers for a memorial.
Gemma believes her son is too young to be given this type of assignment, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic, when many families have had loved ones die.
She said: “I don’t think this homework was appropriate.
“Children are experiencing enough trauma and anxiety during lockdown.
“They don’t need to be reminded of their own mortality.
“It was very insensitive.
“Imagine if my son had lost a grandparent and was grieving. To be thinking about planning his own funeral at the same time is disgusting.”
Since posting the picture on Facebook, hundreds of users have expressed their outrage.
One commented: “This is disgusting especially seeing as we are in a pandemic and 1,000s are dying.”
A teacher also responded to the post, saying: “I wouldn’t do this. Some children can be very susceptible to ideas about death and funerals.
“You don’t always know if one of your pupils has had a recent loss and this sort of thing can be very triggering for pupils.”
The school have since apologised and claimed the homework was sent out in error.
Gemma adds: “Looking at the questions, I didn’t even want to answer them as an adult.
“A child should be a child for as long as possible and not be faced with these morbid questions.
“There is plenty of news and talk about death in the current climate, kids don’t need to be reminded of it while they’re doing their school work.
“Schools need consent from parents when they discuss sex education with students, but I believe they also need consent when discussing topics relating to death.
“There’s no way I’d allow my child to sit in a classroom and be involved in a ‘plan your own funeral’ activity.
“I hope the school think very carefully about the homework assignments they give in the future.”
The school says the work was not included in an online pack provided to most to the year group, but was sent out in a hard copy version to just 12 pupils.
Neil Lockyer, chief executive officer St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, said: “The school and Trust fully recognise that, without the support of the teaching that normally accompanies this very sensitive topic, it was not appropriate to send; we apologise completely for this oversight.
“Although none of the twelve families contacted the school upon receipt of the work, as soon as the school realised that the administrative error had occurred, the Head of Religious Education contacted each of them by telephone to personally apologise to them.”