SHOCKING levels of discrimination against teachers who are LGBTI have been revealed in a survey by teaching union NASUWT.

Six in 10 — 59 per cent — of LGBTI union members taking part said that they had personally experienced homophobia, biphobia, transphobia or related forms of discrimination in their workplace.

Pupils were identified as the largest group responsible, followed by teachers or other staff, parents and school leaders.

The problems were compounded by a lack of procedures for reporting discrimination and harassment and lack of confidence that action would be taken.

A conference to investigate the problems is being held by the NASUWT in Birmingham today.

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “School and college employers who are failing in their statutory duty to protect LGBTI teachers from discrimination, harassment and victimisation at work are breaking the law and they must be held to account.

“There must be a zero-tolerance approach to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia so that our schools and colleges are safe and secure places where teachers can teach and pupils can learn free from the threat of prejudice, abuse and violence.

“We need to see every school and college employer putting in place effective systems for reporting and dealing with cases of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic discrimination, bullying and harassment.

“It’s high time the government takes seriously the realities facing too many of our teachers and takes steps to ensure that LGBTI staff are included and respected at work.

“Providing pupils with an LGBTI-inclusive curriculum must also be an integral part of efforts to tackle the problem of prejudice and abuse in schools.”

The Department for Education was contacted for comment.