Teachers were awarded millions of pounds in compensation last year for accidents or injuries at school.

One West Sussex teacher was awarded £173,595 in an insurance claim after dislocating their right ankle while on playground duty.

In another case, a female teacher in the West Midlands was given £112,000 after seriously injuring her shoulder and arm as she tried to stop a 13-year-old attacking another pupil.

Members of the NASUWT teaching union alone were handed almost £8.8million in compensation in 2009.

Amongst these was one of the highest ever pay-outs received by a teacher.

In that case, first revealed last year, Sharon Lewis was awarded £279,708 after being assaulted by a pupil while working at as a special needs teacher in Nottingham.