Only One in Five New Primary School Teachers is Male: Concerns about the lack of male role models for primary school students are becoming increasingly valid, as new figures suggest that only a fifth (21%) of graduates who are training to become primary school teachers this year are men. This proportion amounts to around 4,100 individuals – although it does mark a rise of around 1% on last year. Still, the figures mean that pupils at primary schools will be overwhelmingly taught by women in the coming years – adding fuel to perception that teaching young children is seen as a ‘woman’s profession’ which was discovered by research earlier this year. Indeed, data from 2011 suggested that around a quarter of primary schools had no male teaching staff at all. The most recent research, carried out by Nottingham Trent and Bedfordshire Universities, found that there are also fears that men working with young children may be incorrectly branded as paedophiles.

However, despite the low proportion, the government has made it clear that the figures for male involvement in primary school teaching are rising – male entries for primary school teacher training are up by a fifth in the last five years, and a quarter of entrants for the School Direct scheme are men.

Only One in Five New Primary School Teachers is Male
Image: Fred the Oyster via Wikimedia Commons

Despite the lack of males seemingly going in to teaching, ministers confirmed that the overall number of trainees is essentially on track – with 33,110 student teachers beginning in September out of a total target of 34,470 for 2013/14. Figures also suggested that record levels of ‘well-qualified’ students were entering the profession – with almost 3 in 4 primary or secondary school teaching trainees having achieved a 2:1 or first-class degree. Only one percent of teacher trainees have a third-class degree.

That said, it should also be noted that these figures vary based on subject. Only two-thirds of those training to teach maths, physics or chemistry have good degrees, according to figures released by the Department for Education.