Among the claims made by the husband of the senior teacher was staff had been kicked, spat on, threatened with scissors and hit on the head.

He also said parents caused a violent incident, witnessed by other parents and children, and police had to be called.

Following the publication of the allegations, education department officials descended on the school en masse, and it was claimed pupils were encouraged to talk up the school.

The council, which argued the problems were being exaggerated, has since set up an independent inquiry into possible classroom violence and intimidation.

The department has also been criticised over its “squandering” policy of using Public Private Partnerships to build and maintain new schools.

According to figures obtained by the Tele earlier this year, the total cost to the tax-payer of the PPP contract will be more than £393 million.

While the administration described PPP as “the only game in town,” opposition politicians said it was a failed policy and criticised the fact the total cost had taken so long to come to light.

Education chiefs also found themselves at the centre of a storm in April when school inspectors published a report that revealed serious health and safety concerns about Fintry Primary building.

The council insisted it was safe, but parents and councillors were united in condemning its poor condition amid claims of buckets being used to catch leaking rain water.

Fintry is part of the PPP project, but the complexity of the deal has pushed back the timetable and it is one of the last scheduled to be done.

More broadly, the council has been forced to defend the attainment of pupils.

A report last month showed that while Dundee youngsters are doing better in exams, results are still among the lowest in Scotland.

Out of 10 indicators, covering results from S4 to S6, city schools were at or near the bottom in nine. The best performance was sixth-worst in one measure.