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| Male teachers at 'five-year low' | Male teachers at 'five-year low' |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The number of men working as school teachers has reached a five-year low leading to concerns about a lack of positive male role models, say experts. | |
| The number of male primary teachers in Wales currently stands at 2,140, compared to 11,807 women. | |
| Children's Commissioner for Wales Keith Towler said the trend was worrying. | |
| According to figures from the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW), women make up 84.7% of registered primary school teachers. | |
| Mr Towler said children need positive male role models, especially during their early years. | Mr Towler said children need positive male role models, especially during their early years. |
| He said a whole generation could be left without them during their formative years in school. | He said a whole generation could be left without them during their formative years in school. |
| The number of male teachers is even fewer in nursery education, with only one registered in Wales in December 2009. | |
| Ben Dobson, 25, qualified three months ago and is a nursery teacher at Alderman Davies Primary School in Neath. | Ben Dobson, 25, qualified three months ago and is a nursery teacher at Alderman Davies Primary School in Neath. |
| CLASSROOM GENDER BALANCE 2005: 10,264 (men); 27, 956 (women)2006: 10,181 (men); 29,298 (women)2007: 10,130 (men); 28,555 (women) 2008: 10,065 (men); 28,877 (women)2009: 9,935 (men); 28,944 (women)Source: General Teaching Council for Wales - registered teachers - secondary and primary - by gender in Wales | |
| "A lot of men go into secondary teaching rather than primary, I don't think people realise how varied the curriculum is in primary schools, it would be great for people to have an insight," he said. | "A lot of men go into secondary teaching rather than primary, I don't think people realise how varied the curriculum is in primary schools, it would be great for people to have an insight," he said. |
| "I work in a great team with excellent teachers, excellent practitioners and learning support assistants and we never allow ourselves to be in a one to one with a child - that's for their protection and ours as much as anything. | "I work in a great team with excellent teachers, excellent practitioners and learning support assistants and we never allow ourselves to be in a one to one with a child - that's for their protection and ours as much as anything. |
| "It's the world we live in, you never put yourself in a compromising situation. You don't want it to interfere with your relationship with the children, you don't want it to be sterile, but there are lines and boundaries and I feel very comfortable". | "It's the world we live in, you never put yourself in a compromising situation. You don't want it to interfere with your relationship with the children, you don't want it to be sterile, but there are lines and boundaries and I feel very comfortable". |
| Anna Davies said her son Charlie was taught by Mr Dobson, who calmed him down on his first day at school. | Anna Davies said her son Charlie was taught by Mr Dobson, who calmed him down on his first day at school. |
| Good quality male teachers working here have had a positive impact Lyn Griffiths, head teacher | Good quality male teachers working here have had a positive impact Lyn Griffiths, head teacher |
| "I think that aspect - having a man in the classroom - is really helpful. No one wants to leave their child screaming in school," she said. | "I think that aspect - having a man in the classroom - is really helpful. No one wants to leave their child screaming in school," she said. |
| "Ben was able to help him, stop him crying and help him to get into nursery, which he then really enjoyed." | "Ben was able to help him, stop him crying and help him to get into nursery, which he then really enjoyed." |
| Head teacher Lyn Griffiths said: "Our feeling is that good quality male teachers working here have had a positive impact. They're able to inspire both boys and girls and, in some instances, those boys without a male role model at home, it helps to inspire them to achieve." | Head teacher Lyn Griffiths said: "Our feeling is that good quality male teachers working here have had a positive impact. They're able to inspire both boys and girls and, in some instances, those boys without a male role model at home, it helps to inspire them to achieve." |
| Jane Williams, from the early years department at the University of Wales, Newport said: "I think the reasons so few men come into early years education are firstly a public suspicion of why men want to work with young children, due to coverage in the media of paedophilia. | Jane Williams, from the early years department at the University of Wales, Newport said: "I think the reasons so few men come into early years education are firstly a public suspicion of why men want to work with young children, due to coverage in the media of paedophilia. |
| "Also, there is the lack of a credible professional career structure resulting in low wages and poor status, and there is a perception of it being regarded as a female role." | "Also, there is the lack of a credible professional career structure resulting in low wages and poor status, and there is a perception of it being regarded as a female role." |