Staff at the Cupar high school were shocked to discover last week that the sensitive documents — which included home addresses, dates of birth and even passport details — went missing more than two months ago after Fife Council sent them off to Disclosure Scotland, the body which checks a person's suitability for working with children.

Disclosure Scotland says it received only three of the forms on three separate dates, although the council insists they were all posted at once and went by recorded delivery.

This week, Fife's senior education manager James McKinstry confirmed that efforts to try to find the forms were still continuing.

He said: "We are keeping both the staff involved and our trades unions up to date with any progress we make on this.

"Additionally, we are working with Disclosure Scotland to ensure everything possible is done to prevent a repetition of this incident in the future."