Disabled teachers’ careers have been “blighted” by the Con-Dem coalition, teaching union NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said at the weekend.

A worrying 77 per cent of those polled at the union’s disabled teachers’ conference said they faced discrimination at school.

And over 70 per cent reported that they have not been given fair and equal opportunities when applying for teaching jobs or promotions and 81 per cent said they’d been bullied because of their disability during their career.

The union said Tory Education Secretary Michael Gove’s destruction of workplace regulations have created an environment for discrimination.

Ms Keates said: “There can be no doubt that the disabled people have been some of those hit hardest by the government’s policies.

“It is deeply disturbing that the professional knowledge, skills and creativity of disabled teachers are being wasted due to overt discrimination which is blighting careers and educational provision.”