Angry parents have complained to a school after a film with scenes of graphic violence was shown to pupils in class.

Barton Court Grammar in Canterbury has come under fire for playing Spanish Oscar-winner Pan’s Labyrinth to youngsters studying the language.

The 15-rated film was shown to pupils in Year 10 – some aged 14 – without parental consent being sought.

In one particularly brutal scene, the film's lead character, Captain Vidal, caves a man's face in by repeatedly striking it with the base of a wine bottle.

The scene is so graphic it appears in a video called Top 10 Brutal Movie Beatings.

Parents have condemned the decision to show the film, with one branding its makers "sick", adding: "This stuff shouldn’t be shown in schools."

It is understood complaints have previously been made to the school about two other films shown to pupils – Iron Jawed Angels and The Orphanage. The first has a 12 certificate and tells the story of the Suffragette movement, but contains scenes in which a woman is force-fed eggs with her mouth clamped open.

One pupil was said to have been left so distraught after watching it that she could not eat for 36 hours.

VIDEO: A scene from Pan's Labyrinth. WARNING: Very graphic content

The Orphanage, which has a 15 certificate, is a Spanish horror described by one movie critic as the "most chilling" film they had ever seen.

But the British Board of Film Classification says its age certifications only apply when watching a movie in a licensed cinema.

In its guidance to teachers, it says: "It is not actually illegal for schools to show BBFC-rated videos or DVDs or Blu-ray to its pupils of any age, just as parents may also choose to show any material to children in the home.

"Merely showing an age restricted film to under-aged persons – or allowing them to see one outside a licensed cinema – is not in itself an offence."

Despite it not being an offence, the BBFC "strongly discourages" the practice unless the pupils are within a year of the certificated age, or if there is a "serious educational purpose" to showing the film.

But it adds: "Even in such cases clearly schools should seek parental consent prior to showing it.

"We would also recommend obtaining the approval of the head teacher and governors.

"It is vital to make sure that any children watching are not likely to suffer any ill effects as a result of seeing the film."

It is understood the school's head of languages called at least one parent to apologise.

The school has given repeated opportunities to comment but has failed to respond.