§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the principle factors that have led to a decline in the number of male teachers in nursery, 23WA primary and secondary schools to only 34 per cent. of the total number of teachers; and what action they intend to take to attract men to the teaching profession.
§ Lord Henley:Women have traditionally outnumbered men in nursery and primary teaching. Increases in the participation of women in non-education degree courses have increased the scope for them to take PGCE courses leading on to secondary teaching. The diversification of routes into teaching may also have favoured women unable to benefit from traditional entry routes.
Responsibility for promoting teaching as a career rests with the Teacher Training Agency (TTA). In acknowledgement of the fall in the proportion of male teachers, the TTA has identified men as a key target for its information and advice campaigns.