Nearly half of the governors for Scotland's national deaf school have quit following a police investigation into alleged sexual offences by a staff member.

It is understood seven of the 16-member board at Donaldson's School in Linlithgow, West Lothian, have stepped down over a lack of confidence in its management.

The latest development comes as police probe a number of concerns involving one of the school's employees, while deciding if a full investigation is required.

Teachers have been given ministerial guidance to put together an emergency improvement plan after a surprise inspection was undertaken in the fallout from the allegations.

In January the school's support worker, William Docherty, 42, was convicted of indecently assaulting a 16-year-old boy at a party in 2009. Docherty was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Senior school management had received a complaint from the victim's mother, but Docherty was not suspended from his role until nearly four years later.

The school's former chief executive, Janice MacNeill, who was suspended and sacked over the handling of the Docherty case, is pursuing an unfair dismissal case in court this month.

A team of inspectors attended the school on Monday and a meeting was held between the board of governors and parents.

An inside source said: "Staff have been told to tell inspectors everything. I know the school is in a real mess and things are really kicking off."

Michael Connarty, MP for Linlithgow, said: "I have had serious concerns about the management for some time. It should be taken into local authority control, even on a temporary basis.

"They have massive problems in terms of financing and staffing because they did not manage to finish the transaction on their big building in Edinburgh and the situation has gone from bad to worse."

A police spokesman said: "Officers are undertaking an initial assessment to establish whether the issues raised within the report require a police response."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Immediate steps have been taken, and will continue to be taken, to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils."