Teachers who have affairs should be protected by law and must not be sacked, the equalities watchdog has said.

Rules that allow divorced, gay and lesbian teachers to be banned from working in faith schools should also be re-considered, a report published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found.

The report, published this month, said that certain sections of the School Standards Framework Act (SSFA) do not comply with requirements under the EU Employment Equality Directive.

It said that provisions drawn up for head teachers of faith schools, which include considering their "fitness to preserve and develop the religious character" of the school are "too broad".

These provisions “seem to permit a Catholic school to dismiss a gay or lesbian teacher, a divorced teacher or a married teacher conducting a relationship outside of marriage”.