More than £25 million in successful claims was awarded for unlawful deduction of wages, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, constructive dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, age and trade union activity.
The figure represented an increase of 24% compared to the 2011 figure of £12,625,509.
NASUWT, one of the two largest teachers' unions, said it had seen claims rise by almost a quarter.
"Behind every one of these cases is a person who has been damaged physically or mentally, either because of injury or unfair dismissal," said Chris Keates, general secretary, NASUWT.
One teacher was awarded £279,381 for a back injury and psychological damage after she fell from a minibus when an autistic pupil jumped on her.
Another teacher in the west country got £382,930 after being injured in an attack by a pupil. Meanwhile two others in the north east and midlands got £268,787 and £68,572 for similar incidents.
One racial discrimination case included a teacher at a London academy who was awarded £25,000 after finding his name next to a cartoon of a gorilla in the staff room.
Keates said: "It is clear from these cases that if employers operated good employment and health and safety practice, then teachers would not have had to face these traumatic events and there would not be costs of millions of pounds to taxpayers.
"These employers deliberately flout the law, but it's the teachers and the taxpayers who pay the price."
Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the Taxpayer's Alliance, warned the size of the claims risked damaging children's education. He added: "Every penny spent on settling claims means less spent on educating children."
Keates said: "The distress and pressure of the incident to the individual teacher and their family has often been compounded by years of legal action and court proceedings before any award is made.
"While compensation is important, it can never make up for the fact that many of these teachers suffer permanent physical and mental injury and often cannot continue in their chosen career.
"Sadly, as a result of the Government's reckless and cavalier approach to the deregulation of health and safety provisions, employment and equality legislation, more of these cases will arise."
