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Private schools 'have more male teachers'

Posted on 8th September 2009

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Independent school staff has more than twice as many male teachers than secondary state schools do, a study has shown.

The report, from the Independent Schools Council and the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), is said to have been commissioned "to access the true value of an independent prep schooleducation".

David Hanson, chief executive of IAPS, suggested that the proven gap between state-educated boys and girls could be attributed to a lack of male role models.

He went on to say that these pupils need to see it demonstrated that learning is "an acceptable masculine activity".

"When the teaching workforce becomes dominated by one gender … there is potential for a problem," Mr Hanson added.

Findings included the revelation that only 12 per cent of all teaching hours were by men in the state sector.

A study carried out by MP Ivan Lewis, parliamentary under secretary of state for skills and vocational education, and relayed by the BBC showed that girls achieve up to 17 per cent higher marks in English.