Carol Ann Duffy's Education for Leisure features in the Assessment and Qualification Alliance's Anthology - 2005 Onwards.

The poem, on page 37 of the text book, begins with the line "today I am going to kill something", continues to say "I am going to play God" and "there is nothing left to kill", and there is a picture of a large knife next to it.

Lutterworth Grammar School's invigilator Pat Schofield said: "I think it is absolutely horrendous - what sort of message is that to give to kids who are reading it as part of their GCSE syllabus?

"It has been there for at least three years to my knowledge.

"I complained when it first came out and I have complained ever since."

Mrs. Schofield had read about various knife crimes in Rugby and brought the poem to the attention of the Advertiser during one of her regular visits to the town.

She said: "Something has to be done - knife culture is horrific at the moment.

"The schools have no say in it if it is part of their syllabus but it needs to be taken out."

Such is Mrs. Schofield's concern that she has contacted Lutterworth's conservative MP Andrew Robathan, who she says has 'taken it up' and plans to speak with Rugby rector, the Rev Mark Beach who has spoken out against people carrying blades.

A spokesman for the AQA said: "The poetry by Carol Ann Duffy has been a popular choice for candidates and this poem has been particularly well received due to the nature of the debate it raises.

"When taught sensitively it enables schools to explore the contemporary social context and the psychological context surrounding the narrator of the poem alongside its literary merits.

"We are currently looking at the concerns raised about this particular poem with a view to deciding the most appropriate action to take."

A campaign to keep Rugby's streets safer, which focuses on reducing knife crime, will be launched by police and St. Andrew's Church this month.

It will start with a knife amnesty at St. Andrew's Church in the town centre on July 14.