Britian's biggest teachers' union has said the MoD asked schools to distribute teaching materials to children about the validity of the war in Iraq.

The National Union of Teachers has slammed the teaching materials, claiming that some prepared with MoD backing undermined schools' legal duty to present controversial issues to children in a balanced way.

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Later this month, delegates at the NUT's annual conference in Manchester will debate calls for an end to all military recruitment activities in schools.

NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott said he has written to Schools Secretary Ed Balls to complain about a lesson plan sent out to schools intended to help pupils learn the skill of "writing to argue".

The plan focuses on the topic of "the ongoing occupation of Iraq by British Armed Forces".

Mr Sinnott said: "I think it is propaganda. It does not present a balanced position.

"When you are dealing with something as controversial as Iraq and the difficult events that led up to the invasion, teachers are under an enormous duty to present material that is balanced.

"The MoD material does not live up to that high standard."

He added: "What delegates will say - and they will be echoing some things I took up with the Secretary of State - is that some of this material is inconsistent with the duty placed on teachers to present a balanced view of key controversial issues."

Mr Balls wrote back to Mr Sinnott stating that his department does not "promote or endorse specific resources or methods of teaching for use in schools, but I appreciate you drawing this to my attention".

The minister said he was referring Mr Sinnott's concerns to the MoD for further investigation.

The motion to be debated at the NUT conference states: "Conference believes that teachers and schools should not be conduits for either the dissemination of MoD propaganda or the recruitment of military personnel.