A Wiveliscombe parent who is campaigning to stop Kingsmead Community School teaching the cartoon series The Simpsons in lessons for 12-13 year olds has called on Education minister Michael Gove for support.

Joseph Reynolds, who lives in Silver Street in the town, and whose daughter attends the school, has claimed the school is feeding students "junk."

Mr Reynolds, who has collected more than 400 signatures in support of his campaign, told the WWN today: "The Simpsons does not represent the right quality of learning material for students."

The school has maintained the US cartoon show demonstrates the use of language in the media, and has the backing of school governors.

Mr Reynolds, who has also written to local MP, Jeremy Browne, Prime Minister David Cameron, and the Prince of Wales, said: "I believe they teach The Simpsons because the kids like it, and it's easier than teaching Shakespeare.

"What next? Do we teach the Telly Tubbies to younger children?

"There are more profound pieces of literature that we could be teaching, but the kids at Kingsmead are being fed junk.

"Common sense says this is not good enough, and someone has to stand up and point out this is ridiculous.

The only way we are going to stop this is from the top down."

He added: "Dozens of authors are listed in the core curriculum who are being ignored, but The Simpsons does not appear anywhere.

"I don't imagine Mr Gove is going to support teaching The Simpsons."