CYP Now - Opinion: Soapbox - Why getting male primary teachers is vital

I want to see more men in primary teaching because I believe the workforce should be as diverse and representative as society as a whole. But one in 10 primary schools has no male teachers at all.

The Government would like us in the Training and Development Agency for Schools to increase the number of men teaching in primary schools.

We asked boys in primary schools what they thought about having male teachers. Around half (51 per cent) told us that the presence of a male teacher makes them behave better, while 42 per cent said the presence of a male teacher made them work harder. There are also more intangible qualities, with many boys saying male teachers help them enjoy school more (44 per cent) and feel more confident (37 per cent).

The issue is particularly important in inner-city areas, wheresingle-parent families are more common, and there is frequently no male role model at home. In a 2005 survey, three quarters of parents said they wanted to see more men teaching in primary schools.

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