Dundee’s education boss said it was “unfortunate” a troubled school was inspected while it was “in the eye of a media storm” over abuse allegations.
Director of Education Michael Wood told councillors media reports about Kingspark School “had not helped” an independent inspection.
Councillors on Dundee City Council’s scrutiny committee were considering the report which identified a number of issues at the school for children with special needs.
A spokeswoman for Education Scotland said: “Media reports on the school will have had no bearing on the inspection outcome.”
The investigating authority noted they will make a further visit to the school within the next 12 months and report back to parents on the progress that has been made.
Mr Wood told councillors at yesterday’s meeting: “You will all be aware over the last several months of a number of issues and negative media attention around the school.
“As a report it actually reads quite positively. There are a significant amount of positive statements.
“We need to see what we can learn from this report and what we can do to make it better.
“There has been a change of staffing at a senior level. Both head teachers retired and have been replaced.
“It was unfortunate the inspection took place in the eye of a media storm. I don’t think that helped at all.”
Police investigations into complaints made by several parents are still ongoing and Dundee City Council’s Child Protection Committee has also called an independent report.
Councillor Fraser Macpherson asked head teacher Laura Smith how staff at the school dealt with challenging behaviour while councillor Jimmy Black asked how staff physically prevented violence.
She said each child had a comprehensive behaviour plan but admitted this was an issue raised by inspectors.
She said: “They felt we had too many recorded incidents where children had hit another child.
“We record these and report back to parents. Parents recognise they may have a child that might strike out at another child.”
She said staff-to-pupil ratios at the school are high, with some pupils being allocated two members of staff.
Convener Kevin Keenan said: “I am looking for reassurances that the recommendations are being followed to the letter so we can start to build up the confidence of the parents back up in the school.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Objectivity is a core part of the role and function of HMIE.
“Inspectors carried out the inspection of Kingspark as they would at any school with their findings based on the evidence available to them.”