It was claimed that teacher problems have hit pupil attainment

Shona Robison, who represents Dundee East, said problems with teaching staff meant some pupils at Braeview Academy had not received the classes.

Dundee City Council said it was unable to confirm or deny the claims.

Speaking in parliament, Education Minister Peter Peacock said the school faced "particular challenges".

Braeview has been selected for the Scottish Executive's Schools of Ambition programme, leading to it receiving �300,000.

There is no major staffing crisis at Braeview Kevin Keenan Dundee City Council

Ms Robison, a Scottish National Party MSP said staff recruitment and retention problems were "impacting severely" on pupil attainment levels.

"When parents met me earlier this week they expressed concern that some children had received no science for the first six weeks of the new school term," she said.

Mr Peacock said that while there were serious challenges in Dundee that required to be addressed, the situation was not all "doom and despondency".

The minister said: "We do recognise the particular challenges of Braeview and that specifically was why it was picked as a School of Ambition, to give it extra investment, to try to give more encouragement to have more aspiration and to begin over time to lift standards."

Dundee City Council education convener Kevin Keenan said there were currently 12 vacancies out of a total complement of about 700 secondary teachers in the city.