A teacher lost her job at a primary school in England after she told a class of 7-year-olds that Santa Claus doesn’t exist and it’s their parents who put the presents under the Christmas tree.

A class of 25 children was left upset and confused after their supply teacher blurted out the truth about Santa Claus’ existence. Blackshaw Lane Primary School in Oldham, Greater Manchester, was flooded with complaints from disgruntled parents whose children’s dreams were shattered by the news.

A mother of a third year student said she was outraged when her son came home nearly in tears and told her what his substitute teacher said about Santa, who was part of the magic of Christmas for children his age. Parents described the incident as “shocking” and believed it was done with malicious intent.

School governor Councillor Steve Bashforth said: “It would take more than one Grinch to spoil the magic of Christmas. The parents, quite understandably, were more than a little upset.”

The school headteacher Angela McCormick issued an apology for the parents, who claimed it should have been their decision to tell the truth to their children, and informed the supply agency they will no longer need the teacher.

“I have spoken to the supply agency concerned and have completed a complaint form. The children are unscathed and are back on track thanks to the ‘magic’ of our resident staff and the lovely snow we have all appreciated this week,” McCormick was quoted by Rochdale Online as saying. However, the teacher, who was supplied by Rochdale and Oldham Supply Agency, is still registered and will work with other schools, the agency said.

Children took hours to convince that the reason why their teacher had told them Santa didn’t exist was because of her different religious beliefs.