How many male reception teachers do we know?

[PeterParkerSays]

DS starts school in September and, as the current Reception teacher is leaving, they've recruited a new Reception teacher for DS' class. He came into school for the first time yesterday, for a play session with the September intake.

He's a NQT, mid-30s, so presumably had another career first, and he's a bloke. I'm not turning this into an "ooh, men can't care for little ones" thing because that's bollocks or a "rah, rah we've got a male primary teacher" thing - I just want a decent teacher for DS' class, whoever they are.

A group of mums were chatting last night though and none of us could remember another male Reception teacher, even when we were in Infants ourselves. I wondered, with male teachers being in the minority in Primary schools, does anyone else know of a male Reception teacher, just out of interest more than anything?

[cathers]

At my Dc primary school out of the 7 classes, 3 are run by male teachers, one of which is in reception. Think our school is unusual though. The kids love them, they are probably the most popular teachers- strict enough but also very good fun and dynamic in their teaching approach.

We also have 2 male TAs out of the 7 too. Again, they are fab, young and loved by the kids.

[foolonthehill]

in our first school (R-2) there are 3/9 male, in Junior there are 4/12 plus a couple of TAs...maybe it's a sign that times are changing....balance is always good if they are all good teachers

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Three of our seven class teachers are male, and we have just appointed a male head.

I have two sons (and another on the way) so I'm delighted they will have these role models - as sympathetic, caring and inspiring men for whom children aren't just an annoyance.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Sorry, forgot to say they aren't Reception - Y1, Y4 and Y6. And I also forgot the PE teacher who is also a man.

[mrz]

Half our teaching staff are male including the reception and Y2 teachers.

[ihearsounds]

Loads of males in the local primary. 12 classes, 8 are male. Have 6 ta's, 4 are male. So is the HT, physio, salt, ict tech, caretaker, cleaners, mdms, office staff, parent liaison and senco.

Some of the attitudes from so called adults is beyond appalling. I have a lot of history with the school, even when mine haven't attended. Have also been involved with a lot of coffee mornings etc for potential new pupils and their parents. The amounts of parents who have a problem with the male is staff is truly beyond awful.

[Newforestpony]

We have a fab male Reception teacher that has transformed our son.

I also purposefully chose our husband and wife childminders so that he is in a rounded environment.

It's great to have excellent teachers, of either sex, who are committed to helping our children achieve their very best - we feel blessed :-)

[Poppetspinkpants]

One male teacher and one male TA in DDs school.
We had three in our junior school; one lovely Yorkshireman, one camper than a row of tents and a good looking one (who would have progressed further in his career if he'd learned to keep his trousers zipped up ).
But that's another story.

[LaundryFairy]

More than 10 male teachers at DS' primary - 2 of them teach reception. I have absolutely no evidence to back this up, but I do suspect that the head teacher prefers men because a) she is a bit of a queen bee and b) she prefers people who are less likely to take maternity leave...

[MrsMigginslovespies]

My DH is a primary school teacher (teaches 9 and 10 year olds a range of subjects). He's brilliant and the kids all love him, boys especially which is important at that age. He's tough, fair, funny, works very very hard and I couldn't do what he does :)

[threefeethighandrising]

DS has a lovely male "grown-up" (that's their official title!) at nursery.

Have met several of his teachers and support staff at his new infant school, due to start in Sept. Not seen a man among them yet.

When I was little we had three male teachers at my primary school. They were great :) One of them used to bring his guitar in and teach us lefty / hippy songs He was brilliant.

[louisianablue2000]

DH and I each had only one male teacher at our respective primary schools. According to the BBC it's 12% of primary teachers, but 25% of those entering the profession so it's getting better. OR, it's that classic thing of men entering 'female' professions are promoted quicker than the women.

I would love to see more even numbers, I think it's good for both boys and girls to see men in 'caring' professions.

As an aside the DDs nursery had a police office in this week. All the children expressed surprise that the police 'man' was female. My lovely nursery had requested a female especially, they do the same when they get a fire office in, the boys just about had a brain haemorrhage to discover there was such a thing as a female fire fighter.

[ragged]

25% of teachers at DC school, but none in reception yet.

[katydid02]

Sparklingbrook, I think you just gave me the final information I needed to be certain about my choice of middle school

[Sparklingbrook]

katy it has been a revelation it really has. The female teacher he had last year was fabulous, but having a male teacher this year seems to have made a difference.

[sunshine401]

My DH is a primary teacher does not seem to be that rare round here.

[Sparklingbrook]

We have First Schools around these parts (YrR-Yr4) and I don't think male teachers are that common at those.

[Grittzio]

Still waiting for my year 4 DS to have a male teacher, fingers x'd for next year, but my reception DD at the same school has had the most fabulous male teacher.

[AWimbaWay]

There are 4 male teachers at my dc's school, one a reception teacher, I don't know about the others as my dc haven't had them yet but the reception teacher was great.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Loadsa blokes at my DSs primary school. I had one at my primary school, twice. He was amazing, my most memorable teacher by far.

[christinarossetti]

Both my children have had/will have male reception teachers. Ditto nursery. Ditto more as they go up the school as nearly half are men (although none of the SLT at the moment ).

[KirjavaTheCat]

There were loads in my primary school, my friend is a primary school teacher and says it's pretty even at his school. Guess it depends where you live?

[superfluouscurves]

DD had two male teachers last year (one was form teacher).

One was great and exacting yet positive - one a bit young and arrogant who had some growing up to do himself imo.

I was pleased because prior to this dd had always been taught in a "naice" cosy female cabal and I thought a bit of rough and tumble would do her good - which it did!

Overall teaching standards weren't that different to previous female teachers (as expected) but what was totally unexpected and frankly quite frustrating was the very poor communication. The male teachers hardly ever acknowledged notes in daily, vital hwk book, hardly ever generated communication themselves, only once acknowledged and replied to a letter (and that was when pushed) and I felt really out of touch for the first time in ages.

This could be an incredibly sexist comment (based, I admit, solely on the personal experience above), but I found the female teachers to be much more conscientious when it came to keeping in touch and involving parents. They always took time to explain things and write out thorough notes in the hwk book for example.

[katydid02]

Sparkling - two at both of the other first schools in town, DS had one the other year and we have our fingers crossed for next year.

[Sparklingbrook]

Really? Ooh I didn't know that katy. Definitely no men at DS's First School.