A school has sparked complaints on social media after handing out an awards nomination form with categories including “best-looking female” and “biggest strop”.

Hugh Christie School in Kent sent Year 9 pupils home with a list of categories for their Celebration Assembly Awards, where options ranged from the “best-looking” male and female pupils to awards for the “biggest poser”.

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Pupils’ families expressed outrage on social media, with Lucy Hall, whose nephew attends the school, describing the form as “shocking”.

Others pointed out that no positive qualities or personality traits were included in the categories.

Jon Barker, the school’s executive principal, said: “I wish to apologise unreservedly for the awards nomination form circulated to students and seen by parents that has caused offence.

“As soon as senior leaders were made aware, the form was withdrawn and replaced with one that correctly reflects the school’s ethos. 

“We will apologise to all students who received a form today and explain why we believe it was inappropriate to use. We have also emailed parents to apologise.

“Hugh Christie takes issues concerning the mental health and wellbeing of its students very seriously. Therefore, we have launched an internal investigation as to why and how this happened.”