COUNCIL bosses were forced to issue a grovelling apology to Conservative leader Ruth Davidson after a botched information request led to incorrect data being read out in parliament.

Referencing figures supplied directly by the local authority, Ms Davidson told MSPs at Holyrood that four different levels of a subject were being taught in one classroom at Inverclyde Academy.

She made the comment as she criticised the SNP government about the rise of 'multi-level' teaching.

The Scottish Tory leader said a freedom of information (FOI) response from the council revealed that pupils were studying National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher maths side-by-side.

But the numbers did not add up due to a mistake by red-faced council officials, with education chief Ruth Binks forced to send a letter saying sorry to the Scottish Tory leader.

A source has told the Tele that school staff are furious about the miscalculation.

Ms Binks did acknowledge that in one drama class, three levels - National 3, 4 and 5 - were being taught and confirmed there are two business management classes where N4 and N5 programmes are being delivered to students at the same time.

In her letter, the director of education, communities and organisational development said: "I am writing to apologise on behalf of Inverclyde Council that we supplied incorrect information in a freedom of information enquiry which you used in the Scottish Parliament.

"The error was not done intentionally but we sent the wrong information and for that I apologise to you."

The correct figures - published by the council after Ms Davidson's speech in parliament - showed that there are 17 subjects where 'bi-level' teaching is the norm, including history, modern studies, chemistry, biology and physics.

Maths and English were not included.

All of the bi-level classes featured a mixture of National 3, 4 or 5 being taught.

An investigation is now under way to find out how the local authority provided the wrong information to Ms Davidson's party.

A council spokesman said: "The information is not correct, we do not teach National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher in the one class at Inverclyde Academy.

"Unfortunately, we have provided an FOI response which gives the impression we do and we are investigating what has happened."