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A private British school has drawn the ire of a mother who thought her teenage son's creative writing assignment was a suicide note.

A teacher at The Discovery Academy in Staffordshire had students write letters as if they had a terminal illness and only a few hours to live.

But when Wesley Walker, 14, handed his project to his mom before heading off to bed, he sparked quite a panic.

"I felt I was going to find him hanging from his bed," Vicki Walker told BBC. "I found it sick."

"I want you to remember the fun times and the happy times, at my funeral make everyone were (sic) bright colours to remember my personality," the letter reads. "I know I have been a pain at the best of times but I'm with Nan and Grandad now so I love you and goodbye."

He ends the note with: "Please be strong for me."

"He handed it to me one evening and then just went upstairs to bed," the boy's mother said. "I really felt like I was going to find him hanging from his bed and maybe he felt he couldn't take any more."

A school spokesman told the broadcaster the project was "expressive art."