Children as young as four were shown “inappropriate” video content in class at one of Dundee’s top primary schools.
The blunder took place at Forthill Primary School in Broughty Ferry and left a number of children “frightened”.
Parents have been told they briefly viewed the content, the exact nature of which is not known, after it was selected in error by their teacher from YouTube.
In a letter to parents, the school’s head teacher Teresa Skelding has apologised unreservedly for the error and pledged to ensure the mistake is not repeated.
Dundee City Council, meanwhile, has said it will investigate.
The primary one children were to have watched a “Mr Happy” cartoon, from the popular Mr Men series, as part of a lesson.
It is understood the teacher clicked on the first clip that appeared in the viewing list, believing this was the pre-selected clip around which they had planned a lesson.
With children already seated in readiness to watch the video, however, an alternative video began, which the teacher is said to have “turned off immediately”.
In her letter to parents the head teacher writes: “For a short period of time the children were exposed to inappropriate scenes which some found frightening.
“The class teacher attempted to reassure the children and distract them from what they had seen.
“I can only offer my unreserved apologies that this has happened.”
The Courier understands the images were not pornographic in nature but Dundee City Council categorically refused to reveal the content viewed by the pupils.
A spokesman also refused to confirm whether or not parents would be told what their children had seen.
One parent who received the letter contacted The Courier to express their surprise at the use of the video-sharing site in class.
“The standard of teaching at Forthill is exceptional so I am sure this was just a slip-up, but you have to wonder about the wisdom of using YouTube as a teaching resource,” they said.
“Everybody knows there is some pretty unpleasant stuff out there.
“After receiving the letter I looked up Mr Happy and the first item available shows extremely graphic images.
“I don’t know if that was the video seen by the children but I sincerely hope not.
“I hope staff think very carefully before using such internet sources as teaching aids in the future.”
At the school, parents made it clear that they have trust in the school to make sure the incident is not repeated.
“The teachers here are all fantastic and I am sure this was nothing but an innocent mistake,” said one.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “The school has written to families to apologise and the head teacher will talk to parents if they wish to discuss concerns directly.
“An investigation is ongoing into the circumstances.”