Teaching packs provided by the group Truth in Science, which include DVDs produced in the United States, were sent to all British schools at the start of the current term, The Guardian reports.

A spokesman for Truth in Science says the group received positive responses from 59 schools, indicating they found the information useful.

A Liverpool high school chemistry teacher said he planned to use the group's DVDs to present intelligent design as a challenge to Darwinism.

"I'm flabbergasted that any head of science would give credence to this creationist theory and be prepared to put it alongside Darwinism," says Phil Willis, a Liberal Democrat member of Parliament.

Willis says the government had made it clear "neither intelligent design nor creationism are recognized scientific theories" and should not be included in the science curriculum.