Nick Fletcher MP, a member of the Education Select Committee and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Men and Boys, has issued a short anonymous survey asking teachers why there are so few male teachers in UK schools. The survey can be found here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/W7CCZQ/
He is also urging schools and teachers to submit evidence to the Education Select Committee’s current inquiry on teacher recruitment, training and retention. The closing date for evidence is Friday 21 April 2023: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7357/teacher-recruitment-training-and-retention/
The latest Government figures show:
Current1
• 35% of secondary school teachers are male
• 14% of primary and nursery school teachers are male
• 25% of special needs or PRU teachers are male
Analysis from the Institute of Education / University of Essex shows that 30% of primary schools have no male teacher2.
Pipleline3
In terms of those entering the sector, there is no real change on the horizon:
• 34% of new teaching entrants for secondary school are male
• 15% of new teaching entrants to primary and nursery school are male
• 20% of new teaching entrants to special or PRU schools are male
Nick Fletcher MP, states: “When looking for the reasons why there are so few male teachers in our schools, I was astonished to find there was very little hard research, even more so based on the views of teachers themselves.
“It is hard to understand why this is the case especially from national education bodies and from a Government perspective. They must surely want to know why because it would help them ensure there was a better gender balance in our schools and to help male teacher recruitment.
“I have put together a short survey for teachers that will help me and other MPs to better understand the reasons. I also urge teachers and schools to submit evidence on this subject to the Education Select Committee itself. Thank you to those teachers that do take part.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. School workforce in England (Reporting year 2021): https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england
2. Fullard, Joshua (2020) Trends in the diversity of teachers in England. The Education Policy Institute / University of Essex. https://repository.essex.ac.uk/30979/
3. School workforce in England (Reporting year 2021): https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england
Analysis from Data Tables
Media Enquiries
Journalists requiring further information should contact Nick Fletcher MP at: [email protected]
