YORK-BORN actress Dame Judi Dench has won praise for her portrayal of a gay teacher in her latest film.

Former Mount School pupil Dame Judi, 72, has been nominated for the best actress award at the 79th Academy Awards, to be held on February 25, for her performance in Notes On A Scandal.

The acclaimed actress plays a lesbian teacher who is isolated and alone before befriending a character played by Cate Blanchett, who then becomes wrapped up in the scandal.

The Schools Out charity has praised the film's makers and claimed the film provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the secret lives many teachers are forced to live.

Research released by the Teachers Support Network and further research by the National Union of Teachers shows many teachers are still too scared to affirm their sexual orientation in schools for fear of abuse.

Charity chiefs at Schools Out claimed there are 25,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-gender (LGBT) teachers in the UK and research has shown 99.1 per cent were afraid to speak out about their sexuality.

However, researchers found 73 per cent of households with children would be happy for their children to be taught by LGBT teachers.

The charity is now calling for an open debate in schools about the subject during LGBT History Month, which takes place in the UK every February.

Sue Sanders, co-chair of Schools Out, said: "This is a complex and difficult film that raises very important issues for us all.

"That it has become such a renowned film will hopefully help us to put these issues on the agenda in a positive and meaningful way. We are delighted that Dame Judi has also been nominated for an Oscar for playing such a complex role and we obviously wish her all the best."

"However, the real scandal' that both the book and the film highlight is homophobia and the effect it has on lesbian and gay teachers and our society as a whole."