LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A group of English schoolchildren who reared a lamb from birth and named it Marcus has overridden objections by parents and human rights activists and voted to send the animal to slaughter.

Marcus the six-month-old lamb has now been culled, the head teacher of the primary school in Kent, southeast England, confirmed on Monday, after the school's council -- a 14-member group of children aged 6-11 -- voted 13-1 to have the animal killed.

The decision has provoked fury among animal-loving celebrities, human rights campaigners and the parents of some of the children, and led to threats against Lydd primary school and its teachers, according to a member of staff.

Around 250 children at the school take part in a program designed to teach them about caring for, rearing and breeding animals. The educational farm was started this year and also has ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.

The intention had been to buy some pigs with the money raised from slaughtering Marcus, but those plans have been put on hold following the public furor created by the sheep's culling. The school said the program may have to be stopped.

The school said there was overwhelming support among the children, the staff and most of the parents to have Marcus -- a castrated male who could not be used for breeding -- sent to the slaughterhouse, but opponents branded it heartless and cruel.

A popular talkshow host offered to buy the sheep and give it sanctuary and Facebook groups sprung up to rally support to keep Marcus alive. But the children had the final say. The school defended the children's decision calling it educational.

"When we started the farm in spring 2009, the aim was to educate the children in all aspects of farming life and everything that implies," the school said in a statement.

"The children have had a range of opportunities to discuss this issue, both in terms of the food cycle and the ethical aspect... It is important for everyone to move on from this issue, so the children can focus on their education."

(Reporting by Luke Baker; Editing by Steve Addison)