Angry parents are protesting outside a school after a teacher showed derogatory caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
The parents want the teacher at Batley Grammar school in West Yorkshire to resign or be sacked.
A statement passed through the school gates, signed by the headteacher, apologises for using a "totally inappropriate resource" and confirms the member of staff has been suspended pending an independent formal investigation.
The statement says: "We have immediately withdrawn teaching on this part of the course and we are reviewing how we go forward with the support of all the communities represented in our school."
The school delayed starting the school day until 10am over the "disturbance" and advised pupils to stay home until then.
Police have cordoned off the scene and are reportedly at every entrance of the school, Yorkshire Live reports.
Parents took to protest since 7:30am after a message inciting them to rally against the offensive teaching resource was spread last night.
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A parent told a Yorkshire Live reporter that this wasn't the first time the teacher had allegedly shown this kind of material.
“It’s the second time this teacher has done this so they want him to be sacked," he said.
"I’m not sure how long the protest will last today."
The school has apologised for the "completely inappropriate" resource used in the lesson, with headteacher Gary Kibble saying: "The school would like to thank the parents who contacted us on March 22 highlighting concerns with a resource used in an RS lesson that day.
"Upon investigation, it was clear that the resource used in the lesson was completely inappropriate and had the capacity to cause great offence to members of our school community for which we would like to offer a sincere and full apology."
Mr Kibble said the school would take "immediate action" which would involve the removal of the offensive resource and the suspension of that lesson content.
While as an additional precaution there will also be a formal review of the RS curriculum to ensure no other resources or statements are inappropriate.
The email ends with: "The school is investigating the matter using formal processes and we are grateful for the support of the Local Authority."
A group of around 50 parents and community figures remained congregated outside the school this afternoon as the school released a new statement signed by the headteacher, Mr Kibble.
The statement said: "The school unequivocally apologises for using a totally inappropriate resource in a recent religious studies lesson. The member of staff has also given their most sincere apologies.
"We have immediately withdrawn teaching on this part of the course and we are reviewing how we go forward with the support of all the communities represented in our school. It is important for children to learn about faith and beliefs, but this must be done in a sensitive way.
"The member of staff has been suspended pending an independent formal investigation."
"The school is working closely with the governing board and community leaders to help resolve the situation."
Commenting on the situation, a woman in her 30s with a child at the school said: "We are continuing to wait outside the school to try and speak to the headteacher, we want to hear what he has to say.
"He needs to come out, explain what happened, apologise for it and tell us how he will make sure nothing like this ever happens again.
"We feel like he's hiding away and that's not good enough, he needs to show his face.
"A lot of us have questions for him about how this ever happened in the first place, something clearly went very wrong.
"This image is so offensive to us and, in my opinion, there is no way it could have been part of the curriculum.
"What happened is very dangerous and we need answers."
Carlinghow Hill is still closed in both directions amid the protest.
A statement by West Yorkshire Police said: "We are aware of a small demonstration at the school, which is still ongoing.
"Local neighbourhood officers are in attendance."
