1 in 5 primary schools have no male teachers
MEN ‘PUT OFF BY OLD-FASHIONED PERCEPTIONS’ SAYS UNION
MORE than one in every five primary schools in Greater Manchester has no male teachers.
New analysis of school workforce figures has revealed that 84 primary schools in Greater Manchester have an all-female teaching staff.
Excluding schools where the gender split of teachers is not available, that works out as 21 per cent of all primaries in our area.
Experts say that the lack of male representation in the classroom is due to the perceived low status of primary school roles, and the lower pay that can go hand-in-hand with this. They argue that having more male teachers gives children male role models and helps them achieve their full potential.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “Schools are essential services in the community, and they should reflect that community. Not everyone has what it takes to be a great primary teacher, but whether you can do it isn’t to do with whether you’re male or female.
“Unfortunately many men feel discouraged from entering teaching due to old-fashioned perceptions about jobs involving children.”
In total, there are only 6,476 male primary school teachers in Greater
Manchester, compared female teachers.
Bolton has the highest proportion of primary schools without a male teacher in our area at 31pc, while in Manchester just five primary schools have no male teachers, or 6pc of the total.
Of the primary schools that provided data, there are only four in Greater Manchester that have at least as many male teaching staff as women.
They are St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School in Wigan (59pc male staff), St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy in Manchester (55pc), Whitehill Primary School in Stockport (55pc) and Castle Hill Primary School in Bolton (53pc).
James Bowen, director of policy for school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “It’s important for all children to experience positive male role models, and to understand that men can be interested in education, science or reading, just as much as in football. A diverse Early Years workforce can help children, especially those from deprived backgrounds, to visualise their futures and fulfil their educational potential.”
Nationally, 3,184 primaries in England have no male teachers at all – 36pc of all schools that provided data on the gender of their staff.
There are 129,493 male primary school teachers across the country, compared to 370,479 female teachers. to 20,101