Nearly a third of teachers have had a false allegation made against them, according to a teaching union survey.

The teaching union Nasuwt partnered ITV's the Tonight programme to conduct the research which revealed 30 per cent of teachers have been victims of untrue accusation. More than two thirds of teachers said they would think twice about breaking up a fight between students due to the threat of pupils making false allegations against them.

General secretary of Nasuwt, Chris Keates, said although the results of the survey came as no surprise, they highlighted the risks teachers faced when dealing with pupils.

"The coalition government makes bold promises of handing power back to teachers, but the proposed new powers to search and restrain pupils will leave teachers even more vulnerable to allegations and litigation. What is needed is a change in the law to offer real support and protection to teachers, who all too often, through no fault of their own, face personal and professional ruin as a result of being falsely accused by pupils."

More than four out of five teachers surveyed feel they do not have adequate protection, despite 99 per cent of them saying they were "concerned" a pupil may make a false allegation against them.

Findings from the survey will be featured in a documentary called 'Taking Control Of The Classroom', to be aired on ITV1 on Thursday. It examines the coalition's promises to reinstate the authority of teachers in the classroom and how it actually affects those on the front line.