A school in Rochester has been heavily criticised for asking pupils to act as slave traders and “buy” slaves at an auction.

Year 8 pupils at Rochester Grammar School in Maidstone Road were asked to take part in a fictional slave auction.

Pupils were to pretend they had £100 and were asked to “consider what sort of slave your business will need”.

The worksheet also asked pupils “would a combination of different types be more suitable?”

The “lots to be sold today” included Chamba slaves which had “good breeding potential”, Krumen men who were “very experienced” and two Fanti who were described as “very strong and nimble”.

Posting the letter on Facebook, Cheryl Phoenix said: “I suppose they feel this is appropriate and there should be no offence taken to black students. Maybe we should “JUST GET OVER IT”.

“It’s a harmless maths question, with no historical or current feeling attached to any parties???”

The school has defended the exercise and said it was in keeping with the Department for Education’s history curriculum.

A school spokesman said: “We categorically condemn slavery and racism of any kind, whether historic or present, and are extremely proud of our multi-cultural school, and the tolerant and inclusive atmosphere that we foster every day to ensure all our students are well-rounded young people.

“This worksheet is not used in maths but in the wider context of our history curriculum which follows the Historical Association’s recommendations on teaching historical slavery, and is in line with the Department for Education’s history curriculum which says students should be taught about the effects and eventual abolition of the slave trade.

“This means we absolutely teach students about the horrors of the slave trade, and the worksheet adapts primary sources of the time to illustrate the awful reality of slavery. We also include additional lessons on the horrors of the Middle Passage and life on plantations.”