No male teachers at 11 Birmingham schools
At least 11 Birmingham schools have no male teachers, according to figures on a sample of schools released by the council.
Figures released by Birmingham City Council show 68 per cent of teachers at schools subscribing to the council’s human resources services are female – compared to 32 per cent who are male.
The vast majority of the schools covered are primary schools, according to a Freedom of Information request.
The split is roughly the same at headteacher level, where 69 per cent of heads are women compared to 31 per cent who are male.
The council stated the data from the Freedom of Information request is based solely on schools who purchase the council’s HR Services for Schools services, and it does not hold data for schools who do not purchase these services.
HR Services for Schools is open to Local Education Authority-controlled schools as well as academies, multi academy trusts, free schools and independent organisations. The data covers 118 schools, out of which nine are secondary and the rest are primary.
The 11 schools where there were no male teachers including Beeches Infant School, in Great Barr, and World's End Junior School, in Quinton.
Male role models
In only two schools – Kings Heath Boys and Turves’ Green Boys school – were there more male teachers than female.
Wheelers Lane Technology College, a secondary school in Kings Heath for boys, had the same number of female and male teachers.
Commenting on the figures, Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for education, skills and culture, said: “The teaching of young children is almost part of the caring profession and as such is a gendered workforce.
“If you go into an infant or primary school it is very rare to see a male teacher. It’s a particular issue in early years settings. There aren’t male role models around, which is a bit sad.
“It’s a work in progress. It’s something authorities may need to take into account when delivering careers advice.”
The split is narrower than the national picture. Figures released in January by the Department for Education show 75 per cent of teachers were women in 2018.
By Local Democracy Reporter Mark Cardwell
