The cutlery, believed to be from the canteen, was taken from the pupil at Moorfoot Primary, pictured.

The boy had earlier been caught fighting with another child during the lunch break last Wednesday.

The Tele understands one of the boys also subjected a female staff member to abuse and shouted in her face after she stepped in to break up the fight. Another school worker stepped in and took one of them away and removed the cutlery from the boy’s hand. They then stumbled over each other as they made their way through a door.

Council chiefs have played down the incident and say the matter was handled ‘swiftly’. Education bosses were also quick to deny claims made on social media that the knife was used inappropriately and stressed that no pupils or staff were injured.

A council spokesman said: “An incident was dealt with swiftly in the school.

“Any suggestion that a weapon was used in this incident is incorrect.” Moorfoot enjoys a good reputation in the community but some parents have become increasingly frustrated in recent times over uncertainty at the school.

The Telegraph revealed in November how the head teacher and deputy had been removed from their posts and deployed elsewhere in the district.

There are now claims from some quarters about divisions among staff. As it stands the school is without a head teacher but council officials say an appointment is due to be made soon.

But one parent said: “I’m heartily sick of what’s been happening at the school.

“We have had head teachers being removed and no one properly saying why, and other teachers being transferred to other schools. I’ve have heard that the staff are split in two and no one is getting on.” A spokesman for Inverclyde Council said: “Moorfoot Primary has been involved in some staff changes recently and parents, pupils and staff have been very patient during that time. We hope to announce a head teacher appointment soon.

“We can assure parents that continued high quality education and learning for young people at Moorfoot is our and the school’s number one priority.”