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The vixen and her three cubs were shot dead at The Littlehampton Academy in West Sussex earlier this month. The school defended the decision, saying it had seen “increasing amounts of damage” and an “increasing prevalence of fox faeces” that it feared posed a danger to children.

But the shooting of the fox and the three cubs has sparked a backlash on social media.

The charity Fox Guardians shared an open letter to the school on their Facebook page.

The letter said: “We were shocked to be informed by extremely distressed local residents and parents of children who are pupils at your school that on the night of the 4th of August a much-loved vixen and her three cubs were shot and killed on the grounds of the Littlehampton Academy by paid marksmen you had employed.

“The foxes only ‘crime’ was that they soiled your playing fields. This natural behaviour was enough to condemn them to their death.”

The letter branded the shooting an “incredibly cruel but also utterly senseless act”.

Fox Guardians also highlighted the school’s motto which is “inspiring young people to make a difference”.

The charity said: “Well done, you have just ‘inspired’ your 1,300 students to become wildlife haters and potential wildlife killers, teaching them that it is OK to take a wild animal’s life just because this animal’s completely natural behaviour is an inconvenience to you.

“You missed the opportunity to teach those students that now more than ever we must learn to peacefully coexist with non-human animals.”

The Facebook post prompted hundreds of likes and comments.

One user fumed: “What a cruel and pathetic example those people are at Littlebrainhampton, I’m just so glad none of my grandchildren are in attendance at that murderous institution, shocked and disgusted!!!”

Another blasted: “I am so upset by this that I actually cried I’m nearly 70 so not some silly little girl. I cannot understand how anybody could shoot this lovely animal family and I am appalled as the actions taken by the school.”

A third wrote: Devastating. Horrific action taken. Scary that a school can think this is acceptable. Have emailed a complaint, wish I could do more.”

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Another commented: “Despicable!!!! No other word for it!!!!”

Fox Guardians has also started a petition demanding an end to “wildlife culls and fox killings” at the school, which has been signed by hundreds of people.

A spokesman for The Littlehampton Academy said the school had looked at other options but their “choices were limited”.

The spokesman said: “We did look at trapping them as an option but, once trapped they would be destroyed, and on balance, we felt that allowing them to be trapped and held in cages for a period before being destroyed was a worse option.

“This is not something we decided on lightly but I hope that you can see that as an educational establishment with over 1,300 children on site we have a responsibility to ensure their safety and health, and so we took this difficult decision.”

Government guidance says foxes can be shot using a suitable firearm and ammunition in order to protect your property or business.

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