A teacher who slipped in the playground was awarded more than £173,000 in compensation.

She was awarded the money in an insurance claim after she dislocated her right ankle while on playground duty.

The accident caused nerve damage resulting in the insurance payout.

The West Sussex teacher’s claim formed part of more than £20million paid to teachers across the country who fell over in mud, were hit by gates slamming shut, slipped on polished floors and were scalded by coffee last year.

The compensation claim was revealed as the teacher’s union the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) met for their annual conference in Birmingham.

They would not state which school the teacher had been working at when she suffered her injury but said the total figure was £173,595.

The teacher’s case resulted in one of the largest compensation payouts made to the NASUWT last year.

The compensation is paid from insurance and not from local education authorities or councils.

The union said schools should take better precautions to prevent accidents.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said they were unable to comment on the case.