Wirral puts out call for more male teachers

Oct 29 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

male teachers

WIRRAL is crying out for more male teachers, with figures revealing men make up just 14% of teaching staff in the borough’s primary schools.

There are 191 men currently teaching in Wirral primaries, compared to 1,226 females.

This problem is affecting the whole country as figures recently released by the General Teaching Council for England show men currently account for just 13% of registered primary school teachers.

In a survey commissioned by the Training and Development Agency for Schools, almost half of men say a male teacher has been a fundamental role model in their life.

Primary school teacher Pete Bennett, 57, of Bebington, said: “Children need both male and female role models as they grow up.

“A lot more children now come from one-parent families and so could be lacking in father figures or a male to look up to.

“I think men could be put off, however, because primary school teachers, like nurses, are traditionally seen as female roles.”

In today’s society teachers, especially men, have to be very careful when working with children as a result of child abuse allegations.

But another primary school teacher from Wallasey, who asked not to be named, does not think this is contributing to the imbalance in our primary schools.

The 29-year-old told the News: “I always make sure I’m not putting myself in potentially dangerous situations - if I am alone with a child in a classroom I will leave the door wide open.

“I think this is the same for anyone working with children, but if a man really wanted to teach I don’t think this would dissuade him.”

A Wirral Council spokesman said: “Part of the problem is there are not enough men entering the profession in the first place, an issue which we are addressing by working with the TDA in an attempt to redress the gender imbalance, and by targeting universities and colleges at recruitment events and fairs.”

Graham Holley, the TDA chief executive, said: “We need to celebrate the important roles both male and female teachers play in schools by redressing this imbalance to ensure the healthy development of children today.”