A London headteacher has called on more men to go into primary school teaching so that young children have role models of both sexes.
Alex Lundie, of Broadmead Primary school in Croydon, which recently hired its only male teacher, said most job applicants at the school are women and she always recruits the best person for the job.
Ms Lundie added: “There don’t seem to be very many men who want to go into nursery, reception and Key Stage 1 teaching. It would be great if it would change. I don’t think teaching should be a female preserve.”
The latest figures showed there were 3,680 primary schools without any male teachers, leaving many children without professional role models who are men.
Broadmead Primary has 22 full-time teachers, one of whom is a man, and eight part-time teachers.
Ms Lundie said: “We are a mixed world and it is good for children to have role models of both genders, but they have to be good role models. I wouldn’t say I feel a deficit in terms of what we have but we would happily recruit men to more reflect society.”
As well as one male teacher, Broadmead Primary also has two male teaching assistants, one male football coach, one male sports apprentice and one male music tutor.
Christopher McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “Too many children are living without fathers at home so the absence of male role models in primary schools is a disastrous situation.
“It is storing up trouble for our society in the future. Schools are too feminised and boys are missing out; delinquent behaviour can be one consequence.”
A spokeswoman for the department for education said the number of men teaching in primary schools had increased by 3,400 since 2010.
