Male teachers championed as role models

Out of the 800 men questioned, 35 per cent said that male teachers inspired them to work harder.

Dr Tanya Byron, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, author and broadcaster, said: "The need for strong male role models as constants in the lives of young children is more apparent than ever in light of the increasing numbers of children experiencing breakdown of the traditional family unit, growing up in single parent families or not having a male figure at home. Male primary school teachers can often be stable and reliable figures in the lives of the children that they teach."

Only 13 per cent of current primary school teachers are men. However, the number of male trainee teachers has been increasing by around one percent each year.

The TDA's Chief Executive, Graham Holley, called for more work to be done to recruit men into teaching: "We need to celebrate the important roles both male and female teachers play in schools, and work to redress the gender balance to ensure the healthy development of children today."

Go to www.teach.gov.uk for more information about teacher training for men.