They were only told when we began making enquiries – and even council leader David Parker admitted when we quizzed him he knew nothing about the changes. One local councillor says he is furious and will be demanding an explanation.

The alteration to the design of the steel- and-glass front entrance has been carried out without permission.

Staff and locals in Earlston were consulted on the design of the multi-million pound school – but, like councillors, they were not made aware that the contractor was making changes.

Earlston High, along with new secondaries in Duns and Eyemouth are being built under a controversial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal with Bilfinger Berger.

The project is being overseen by a sponsoring group made up of what SBC describes as key council staff.

A council spokesman this week confirmed the group has already rejected one set of proposed alterations and was about to consider another.

But councillors – including the three representing Earlston – were not kept informed. They were only told after we began making our enquires.

And that silence sent Lib Deb Councillor John Paton-Day into a fury. He told us yesterday: "As a local councillor I believe I have been kept in the dark. I am angry – very angry – at not being kept informed. I am furious and I know other colleagues are also angry.

"I only became aware when I received an email informing me that you (TheSouthern) were making enquires about the situation and intending to publish a story.

"I know this is a PPP project but, as councillors, we should have been kept informed and I will be asking for answers in the council chamber."

Leader Parker told us yesterday: "It is correct that when we spoke last I knew nothing about the changes but after making enquiries was told that a report was being prepared.

"The work has gone ahead without being sanctioned by the sponsoring group."

The changes affect the frontage which has been described as a sloping glass frame on stilts."

Mr Parker added: "These are not dramatic changes and may in fact make the building architecturally better. The crucial issue is the slope of the glass at the entrance and the contractor highlighted that this could be problematic in the years ahead.

"It is correct this has been done without consent and we could ask for it to be redone, but in the end this might be an improvement."

But there seems to be confusion at Newtown St Boswells HQ. A statement issued by Robert Young, head of professional services, said: "A request from the contractor for a change to the frontage of the building was considered by the sponsoring group at its last meeting. This was presented in the form of detailed engineering drawings and it was difficult to determine the visual impact of the change.

"After careful consideration the sponsoring group agreed that it would not accept any change that compromised the architectural integrity of the building, as the proposal appeared to do.