Female/male staff ratios

[Pilgrimforever]

We went to vote yesterday in the local infants school (rec-yr2) that my DC attended.
While we were waiting we were looking at the display with all the staff on.
Out of 41 members of staff only 1 was male.
Is this usual for infant schools?
The local junior school (yr3-yr6) isn't much better.

[Pilgrimforever]

Isn't any better.

Please excuse my bad english grammar!

[AuntieStella]

Male teachers are rare in KS1. My DC's school did have one (now left).

There are more in KS2.

[Jennifersrabbit]

Yes. Ours is unusually good - 4 out of 15 teachers. 1 out of 9 or 10 TAs.

The male teachers in my experience are there because they really want to do it and generally bloody good at the job.

[AsBrightAsAJewel]

Sadly the teaching profession is not that attractive to men! There are a myriad of reasons for this - cultural expectations, assumption by some of men being paedophiles if they enter the profession, etc. Men that do become teachers seem to move into management quicker and that takes them out of the classroom.

I would imagine much of those 41 staff are part time and many are teaching assistants which is really poorly paid - even less attractive to men.

[PatriciaHolm]

I think it's fairly normal. Out of 14 teachers we have 3 male, 1 male TA which I think is quite a high ratio. It is a shame as I think it does the kids good to have a mix of male and female teachers at this age.

[Jennifersrabbit]

That sounded a bit harsh on female teachers - all ours are also excellent. What I was trying to say is that it's a little like women entering male dominated professions, male infant teachers don't tend to go there without a lot of thought and they then have to be extra good in order to succeed.

Proportion of male head teachers is way out of line with the proportion of male class teachers though!

[Pilgrimforever]

The 1 male is a support worker if I remember correctly.
There used to be 2 male teachers out of 7 teachers with the rest of the females being HLTA/TA or support staff.
Now there is about 10 teachers all of whom are female and the rest being HLTA/TA or support.
The Headteacher is female.

[SilasGreenback]

My oldest went to state primary and there was one male teacher and 2 male TAs over the whole time both were there - not at the same time. There were occasions when there were no male members of staff and they had to beg dads to help out with the swimming lessons (they needed someone to chase boys out of the changing rooms at public pool).

Youngest is at an independent primary after we moved. Much higher ratio of male staff - 40 % I would say. I wonder if what makes it more attractive is much more sport, specialist subject teaching and an overall more competitive atmosphere that may appeal to male teachers more.

[noramum]

DD's Infant had no male staff apart from the Caretaker...

They had a male trainee teacher and absolutely adored him. He was great and had such a different approach to the children, especially the boys. They went into mourning on his last day and DD came out sobbing.

Junior is a bit better but still the ratio is low.

[Clutterbugsmum]

My DC primary school is lucky in the fact we have 3 male teachers and 1 TA we also have young teenage boy as a TA sports apprentice who is brilliant with all the children.

[redskybynight]

DC's junior school used to be pretty good (7 out of 18 teachers). However 2 male teachers have now left and been replaced by female ones.

[YonicScrewdriver]

Yes, pretty common.

[mrz]

Ours if 54% female 46% male

[mrz]

The 2006 (can't find more recent ) data puts around 10000 men working in Early Years in England and there are quite a few high profile make reception teachers.

[newbieman1978]

Quite normal in primary, generally one or two in a one form entry school.

Disproportionate amount of male heads mind you.
I've witnessed governors say "we need a strong man" cough "leader" Sad but true.

[ButterflyUpSoHigh]

None at all at ours teachers or TA's. The only male is the caretaker.

[mrz]

I've never taught in a school where there weren't any male teachers but it's now the case in my local school.

I think men are more attracted to schools where there are already other male staff.