Torbay has the highest percentage of male primary and secondary teachers in the country.
But education charity Teach First is calling for more men in the South West to become teachers, as the latest figures show a stubborn gender gap in the profession.
The latest Government statistics reveal that just 28.4 per cent of teachers in South West schools are men, although these figures were the best for any region in England.
While Torbay and Bath and North-East Somerset jointly have the highest percentage of male primary and secondary teachers in the country, this figure stands at only 32.1 per cent.
Eight local authorities in the South West appeared in the top 10 for the country for most male teachers.
| Local authority
|
% of teachers who are male |
| Bath & North East Somerset | 32.1 |
| Bournemouth | 29.3 |
| Bristol, City of | 27.1 |
| Cornwall | 30.8 |
| Devon | 29.6 |
| Dorset | 30.5 |
| Gloucestershire | 26.3 |
| Isles of Scilly | 31.0 |
| North Somerset | 26.6 |
| Plymouth | 29.6 |
| Poole | 30.4 |
| Somerset | 27.7 |
| South Gloucestershire | 29.1 |
| Swindon | 23.7 |
| Torbay | 32.1 |
| Wiltshire | 25.8 |
Teach First is warning that at a time when schools are facing a shortage of teachers, the lack of men entering the profession represents a vast untapped resource.
Teach First has launched a new recruitment video featuring a male teacher and highlighting how he gains responsibility, the chance to take on a new challenge and builds a suite of new and valuable skills while in the classroom.
Since 2013, Teach First placed nearly 200 teachers in schools across the South West.
Jenny Sutton, Teach First South West director, said: “Even with the highest statistics in the country, it’s a shock that fewer than 1 in 3 teachers in our region are male. It is a real loss that the profession is missing out on talented classroom leaders because a huge pool of people are being put off by misconceptions about teaching. Teaching is a hugely challenging and rewarding career, and our young people need role models from all backgrounds to unlock their potential and aspiration, and to help them understand the world.”
“If you’re looking for a challenge – one where you can use your intelligence and personality to help solve one of the country’s biggest problems – Teach First has a unique opportunity for you. Open an application today.”
Since 2013, Teach First placed nearly 200 teachers in schools across the South West.
Jenny Sutton, Teach First South West director, said: “Even with the highest statistics in the country, it’s a shock that fewer than 1 in 3 teachers in our region are male. It is a real loss that the profession is missing out on talented classroom leaders because a huge pool of people are being put off by misconceptions about teaching. Teaching is a hugely challenging and rewarding career, and our young people need role models from all backgrounds to unlock their potential and aspiration, and to help them understand the world.”
“If you’re looking for a challenge – one where you can use your intelligence and personality to help solve one of the country’s biggest problems – Teach First has a unique opportunity for you. Open an application today.”