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?

[LittleSporksBigSpork]

I had several male teachers in primary, it feels like there are fewer now. I think all children, boys and girls, benefit from having a wide range of role models and identity models.

My BIL is a primary teacher, and he's been harassed out of one school where he was the only male teacher by the new headteacher who spoke horribly behind his back, generalizing all male teachers in primary as dodgy, lazy, even had a lot of homophobic language from her regardless of being married with children just because of he works with the younger years. Thankfully, he's found a position in another school as he's a great teacher, but a lot of men I suspect would be pushed out of the profession with that kind of treatment.

[LilyBolero]

Not in reception but the split is 50/50 almost exactly at my kids' school.

[Breezy1985]

We haven't got any male teachers or ta in our school, haven't for the past 2 years. DD had a male nqt teacher in year 2 and loved it. I think the boys do miss out on having a male role model, I am slightly jealous of schools who have male staff, my DS hasn't really got a male role model and I'd love for him to have a positive male around him.

[girliefriend]

My brother is a primary school teacher

There is just one at my dds school really wish there were more, she had a fabulous student male teacher in reception and the whole class loved him. Was gutted they couldn't offer him a job tbh.

[Potterer]

They are outnumbered in our school but we have a 3 class year group so each year has 3 classes; 90 children.

We have a male teacher in nursery, another in reception, year 2, two males in year 3, one in year 4 and 1 in year 6. We also have another male teacher who fits in to whatever class needs him that day and we have a male TA!

So even if children don't have a male class teacher they stand a chance of having a male teacher for numeracy or literacy.

[Lilybensmum1]

Hi, my daughter is just finishing her first year in reception and she has a male teacher, he is brilliant I really wish my son could also have the same teacher as he goes up this year. It would be good to see more male teachers in primary school, my son and daughter think he is fab!

[Potterer]

We also have lots of male student teachers, maybe it's just Leeds

[JaquelineHyde]

I've known loads of male Primary level male teachers, 4 of which I know have taught in the reception year. DD2 had a male reception teacher actually, and my Uncle has taught most year groups at Primary level.

[MamaBear17]

My husband is a male primary school teacher. One of 3 at his school. Not as rare as you would think really.

[minxthemanx]

We have 4 male and 9 female teachers. A good ratio and it makes for a very happy staff room with a lot of laughs. 3 of the 4 are outstanding teachers, 1 good but not so dynamic.

[applepudding]

At DS Primary School there were no male teachers in Infants, but more than half teachers in Junior section were male. Two male teachers in Y6 and I felt that the connection a couple of the young male teachers had with some of the boys was invaluable. DS (now 12) wants to be a teacher - mainly from the influence of one of his old teachers.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Definitely more male teachers at our school now than when DS started. He's in yr2 and has had a male teacher this year, who has been great. There are also several young male TAs in reception/KS1.

Ours is a big school tho, in process of expanding to 4 form entry, so men are still outnumbered. There don't seem to be as many men in KS2.

[Hulababy]

DD had a male teacher in Y5, and was due to have him again for Y6, sadly he died unexpectedly at the end of the summer holidays. Although he worked primarily in juniors, he did do some sessions in reception, and also in the pre school. The children adored him.

School have now a new teacher, he is also male though a fair bit younger. He currently only works across juniors as yet (only started at beginning of summer term.) The woodwork teacher is also male, and some of the visiting music teachers.

I work in an infant school and we have one male teacher. He was a young NQT last year. Was in Y1, and now in Y2. We also have a male TA, in Y2 at present.

[Scarletbanner]

Ds had a male teacher in nursery (part time) and a male TA in year 1 and year 2. They were all great, but so were the female teachers and TAs.

[PeterParkerSays]

NanaNina I'm back, we were away for the weekend.

DH is a part time SAHD, so I have no issue at all about DS having a male carer / teacher. I know that DS is really lucky to spend so much time with his dad when other little boys don't. We have a nursery in our village with a male nursery nurse. He was also great, although the nursery wasn't, so we didn't go for it. We did see him as a real positive though.

I'm glad that there'll be a new male teacher in DS' school, I started the thread purely because I was genuinely curious about how rare male teachers in Reception are.

When DS was allocated a school place, I was unhappy to learn that DS was allocated to a class with no teacher, as they discovered the teacher was leaving the day before the new intake parents' evening whole other thread about that so I'm glad he actually has a teacher. DH will meet the new teacher next week to introduce him to DS.

[Plomino]

Ds 4 currently has a male yr1 teacher , and he's absolutely fantastic . So enthusiastic and has a real talent at getting pupils enthusiastic too . School currently has a male yr1 teacher , and also yrs 3, 4,5 and 6 too , plus a male dinner assistant , so quite a few of them . Mind you we're lucky inasmuch as most of the teachers are great , male or female .

[Khaleasy]

My cousin is a male primary school teacher and he's brilliant.
He recently auditioned to be the next blue peter presenter and got through to the final 50 or something

(Out-ing myself completely)

[DoreensEatingHerSoreen]

PeterParkerSays - I clicked on this thread as DS is also starting school in Sept, and has a male Reception teacher, who is just joining the school and we met him for the first time at a play session on Thursday!

Do you happen to be on the south coast? Would be great if our DSs are in the same class!

[TheYamiOfYawn]

DD had a male reception teacher. He has left the school (to become a deputy head elsewhere) and was replaced by another man. It doesn't seem unusual at all to me.

[mumscuppa]

My son is one aged 24 and loving his first teaching post, as a reception teacher. He seems to be popular with the children and parents.

[Zingy123]

Ours is a two-form entry school with around 400 pupuls. There is not one single male teacher or TA. The only male is the caretaker. I went to the same school and we had male head and 3 male teachers.

[k8vincent]

DS2 has had an absolutely fantastic male teacher this year. It has been wonderful for the boys to have a 'boy' teacher. I couldn't have asked for a better start to school for him. Mr H has totally inspired all the kids in his class and I'm so grateful that DS2 had the opportunity to be taught by him. There ought to be more men teaching early years.

[Flyingtree]

Two males at my son's new infant school. Unsure whether they are teachers or training assistants though. I'd love to see more male staff at primary level, particularly as we don't have their father at home, male role models are in short supply at home.

My daughter's school has no male staff whatsoever across both infant and juniors (just the caretaker) so they have regular events where Dad's or Grandads of pupils volunteer to come in and read story sessions and interact with children.