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Original poster

To ask is this quite normal for primary schools?

118 replies

Tannie10 · 06/02/2026 10:23

I’m looking at schools for my DS. I had a look round the school that is closest to us. I liked it but realised they have very little male staff. I think only 1 male teacher in y4 and it’s a 2 form school. I think they had 3 male TAs. But absolutely no male staff at all in the infants part of the school. Is this quite normal?

OP posts:
Runningismyhappyplace50 · 06/02/2026 12:27

This is completely normal in my experience.

usually a couple of male teachers/TAs, the site manager and maybe a sports coach.

There are more male staff in secondary schools.

GreenIsTheColourOfMyHoliday · 06/02/2026 12:27

Well MN thinks any man who wants to work with young children is a nonce so it's hardly surprising...

cadburyegg · 06/02/2026 12:26

Yes common and normal. My ds10 is in y6 and has never had a permanent male class teacher. He has been taught by a male supply teachers and the male deputy HT in case of illness but all the long standing ones have been female.

BillieWiper · 06/02/2026 12:25

Yeah at primary it's always been much more women. Plenty of schools have no male teachers.

At secondary there's loads though.

sittingonabeach · 06/02/2026 12:24

I don’t think that is right in respect of leadership being mainly male in Primary schools. In my experience Primary education is one profession where having the majority of leadership being female is not unusual. Secondary leadership can be predominantly male

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 06/02/2026 12:24

No male teachers at my dc school.

Whyhaveibeencutoutofmamsnot · 06/02/2026 12:24

Sux2buthen · 06/02/2026 11:53

Bollocks

Show quote history

I agree with the poster - the primary school classroom and playground is very sedate and feminine (in the old fashioned definition of the word). I live opposite a primary school and the playground has become a much quieter place over the years.
Men can be reluctant to work in primary schools - so many parents (mumsnetters especially) think all men are potentially paedophiles. (Putting on tin hat)
This thread is refreshing pro male in outlook

CharlotteFlax · 06/02/2026 12:23

Two male teachers at my kids primary school (3 form entry, multicultural area 3 miles from large city) and two male TAs/support staff.

Newsenmum · 06/02/2026 12:18

Yep. Especially for the early years. Tbh with all the accidents and toileting I can understand it. Men probably worried about being accused.

Sux2buthen · 06/02/2026 12:17

@Notmyrealitysure, but schools are not banning rough play or whatever rubbish they post said because there’s not many blokes.
Im long term school staff and can certainly attest to that

Booksandsea · 06/02/2026 12:15

Very normal. I trained as a primary school teacher, and out of our 200odd cohort I think there were maybe 3 males

Notmyreality · 06/02/2026 12:13

Sux2buthen · 06/02/2026 11:53

Bollocks

Show quote history

There’s a definite benefit to having a balanced distribution and giving children -
young boys in particular - good male
role models.

Hollowvoice · 06/02/2026 12:07

I work in a primary. For a couple of years the only male member of staff was the caretaker. We now have 3 male teachers but have only ever had a male TA on short term supply

InveterateWineDrinker · 06/02/2026 12:03

My DCs are at a suburban double-intake primary. There is one male teaching assistant, and a male agency worker who does PE. And a janitor who also drives the minbus because there isn't a single D1 licence amongst the teaching staff.

They've had three heads in the last 15 months though, and they've all been male.

Blown · 06/02/2026 11:59

I’d say it’s normal for primary, my daughter is year 4 and never had a male teacher, they’ve had a couple but most have left so there isn’t many in the school now.

ADogRocketShip · 06/02/2026 11:59

In our village primary, 2 form intake, there are 2 male teachers (both keystage leads, so SLT) and one male TA.

My DH is a primary teacher. The only other male in the entire school (3 form entry) is the head.

Kirbert2 · 06/02/2026 11:58

Yep.

Though at my son's primary school, he had a male teacher in Year 1 and a male TA in Reception. Both are still there and he's in Year 5 now.

Secretseverywhere · 06/02/2026 11:58

Very, there are no male teachers or TAs at present even the caretaker / lunch staff/ cleaners are women. I’ve had children at the school/ nursery for 12 years there has been a male NQT for a year and a part time teacher for a few years who was male who left but that is it.

It’s about 50/50 at high school though.

KillTheTurkey · 06/02/2026 11:55

DS1 was the oldest man in his school when he was in Year 6 Grin

Sux2buthen · 06/02/2026 11:53

Ablondiebutagoody · 06/02/2026 10:37

It's ridiculous and makes primary difficult for boys. Break time football banned for being too "rough" etc. etc. It's all kind hands and sitting calmly.

If it was 90 odd percent male, something would be done to encourage more women.

Edited

Bollocks

neverbeenskiing · 06/02/2026 11:52

Very normal. 2 male staff (a Teacher and a TA) in DS's 3 form entry Junior School. Not a single male member of staff in Infants.

Crunchymum · 06/02/2026 11:52

2 form entry in our primary.

x2 male TA's, x3 male teachers (was x5 last year but x2 left) and a male head teacher. A scattering of support staff are male (caretaker / a few lunchtime staff) and that's it.

VickyEadieofThigh · 06/02/2026 11:50

ReadingCrimeFiction · 06/02/2026 11:46

It's extremely common.

Also common is that whatever male staff they do have.... land up in leadership positions.

Correct. I was once on the governing board of a primary and a fellow governor was also on the board of another school. They had just appointed a new deputy and she was thrilled it was a man because "He can take the boys for football..."

My partner is also a retired head - of primary schools. I've read this thread to her and she commented that the desire to appoint more men had resulted, in some schools, in less good teachers being appointed simply because they were men.

TheonlywayIcouldbe · 06/02/2026 11:47

My kids go to a 3 form entry school and at least a third of the teachers and TAs are male. Yet neither of mine (years 4 and 6) have ever been taught by a male teacher!

ReadingCrimeFiction · 06/02/2026 11:46

It's extremely common.

Also common is that whatever male staff they do have.... land up in leadership positions.