Teachers at Hollywood superstar Ewan McGregor’s old Perthshire school are facing redundancy.
The shock news was broken to staff at Morrison’s Academy in Crieff on Tuesday afternoon, with more than 500 parents informed by email shortly afterwards.
School officials say the “small number of redundancies” they are looking for will have no impact on the quality of teaching at the site, where fees top £11,000 a year.
The announcement has angered some parents, with one branding the move “an absolute scandal and a disgrace”.
One parent said he understood the departments targeted included English, maths, science and PE.
He claimed the job losses would be rector Simon Pengelley’s legacy to the school which opened in 1860.
“Today I would describe myself as a furious parent and I am far from the only one,” he said.
“In the same email that he (Mr Pengelley) announces that departments and teachers are at risk, he says there is good news as the school is creating a new all-weather pitch.”
He also said parents had been “issued with what was essentially a gagging order” and told to keep quiet about the redundancies.
Asked about the announcement and the parent’s claims, Mr Pengelley said in a statement: “As part of the continuing and prudent financial management of Morrison’s Academy, a small number of redundancies and the contracts of some staff will change from full-time to part-time status from the start of next session.
“We have started a period of consultation with those concerned from the departments that have more staff than will be required for teaching the numbers of pupils we will have in the school in 2015-2016.
“The staff changes being made will have no impact on the curriculum, the quality of teaching and learning or the provision of co-curricular activities.
“Morrison’s Academy will continue to operate at the high level of attainment on which we pride ourselves.”
Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor, who is the school’s most famous former pupil, left in 1987 to embark on his acting career with a job as a stagehand at Perth Theatre.