Women teachers are being systematically denied their contractual pay and working conditions, trade unionists in Birmingham heard at the weekend.

Teachers’ union NASUWT held a women’s consultation conference at the weekend to debate the burden of the coalition’s austerity policies on students and teachers.

Nearly half of delegates said they had experienced discrimination in relation to their pay and progression this year.

Nasuwt general secretary Chris Keates said the union had predicted problems.

“The NASUWT has consistently warned that the coalition government’s reforms to the teachers’ pay system, coupled with the increasing fragmentation of the school system and the lack of local oversight of schools, could increase the potential for discrimination to flourish,” she said.

One-quarter of those at the conference thought the discrimination was a direct result of gender discrimination.

Ms Keates said her union was “deeply worried” about these figures.

According to the union, a further 87 per cent of teachers believe the government doesn’t respect or value teachers.

Many also suggested there was a lack of training and professional development opportunities.

“Schools which seek to flout the law in this way are undermining the professionalism of teachers and the entitlement of children and young people to be taught by a well resourced and supported teaching workforce,” Ms Keates added.