Pat Kyrou, a teacher from Essex and a member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, raised the issue during a motion at the Trades Union Congress Women’s Conference in London.
She told delegates that “an unexpectedly large number” of teachers who are put on capability are female and over 50.
She said: “Until older women have a similarly respected profile to that of older men, their abilities will be under-appreciated and they will be more likely to experience discrimination in all aspects of the job market.”
Ms Kyrou pointed to figures that showed the average salary for female teachers in state schools in 2012 was £36,600, while for men it was £39,900. She also said that fewer women are promoted to senior roles in schools.
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