TWO sixth form pupils have left a church high school after an investigation into an offensive and "non Christian" website which ridiculed classmates.

The teenage girls, students at St Wilfrid's Church of England High School and Technology College, Duckworth Street, Blackburn, claimed the site was a "joke."

But headteacher David Whyte said it featured photographs of other pupils spouting offensive remarks from superimposed speech bubbles.

He said the remarks "contained an anti faith message" and the site was "totally against the Christian foundation of the school."

He said that during an internal investigation the teenagers admitted setting up the site and manipulating other students' images after "taking photos in the school common room."

The girls severed their links with St Wilfrid's, deciding against completing their A2s - the final half of A-levels - when term began four weeks ago.

A Blackburn police spokeswoman confirmed officers were called to looked into the "fantasy game site" but took no action as "the content was not of a criminal nature."

Mr Whyte has now urged parents to patrol the internet and monitor what their children are doing.

He was reluctant to go into detail about the website but stressed pupils would not have been able to access it at school.

He said: "An inappropriate externally hosted website containing information which was totally against the Christian foundation of the school was discovered during the summer term.

"On investigation, two sixth form students admitted setting up the site, claiming it to be a joke. The website was immediately removed by the students, who have subsequently chosen not to return to St Wilfrid's to complete their A2 examinations."

The school, which is attended by more than 1,600 pupils, operates a strict internet filtering policy which would make such sites inaccessible from classrooms.

Mr Whyte added: "Parents should be alerted to be aware such sites exist, and can easily be accessed in a 'non-filtered' internet environment. Any concerned parents should contact the school if they require advice."

He stressed the school took its role regarding the web seriously, with all parents and students asked to read and sign a three-page document which gives clear information about the rules, responsibilities and safety of internet access.

NUT Lancashire executive member and secretary of the Blackburn and Darwen branch, Simon Jones said he "applauded" Mr Whyte's stance.

He added: "The internet is a fantastic resource and I would not want to demonise it but it can be a vehicle for menace. Parents would not let their children watch any old DVD and they should also take responsibility for patrolling the internet at home."

And Amanda Whalley, whose 12-year-old son attends the school, added: "The headteacher is right. The school can only do so much and we as parents must take responsibility for the internet and I personally make sure I know what my son is doing."