THE number of male teachers in Bradford has hit a record low and according to a teaching union, some primary schools have none at all.

Department for Education data shows there were 5,895 teachers in state-funded schools in Bradford as of November 2021 – with 1,439 of them men.

This means male teachers make up just 24.4 per cent of the workforce in the area in the 2021-22 academic year.

This is down from 24.6 per cent in 2020-21, and the lowest proportion since comparable records began in 2010-11.

The proportion of men in teaching has fallen almost every year of the last decade.

The Association of School and College Leaders said there is a particular issue right now in attracting men into teaching, which is contributing to difficult teacher supply problems.

President of the Bradford's National Education Union (NEU) Ian Murch feels teachers’ pay is the biggest reason why men are choosing different career paths.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ian MurchIan Murch

"It is not new that this is happening," he said.

"It is not good to end up with a whole school with no male staff in them at all. There are some primary schools where that is true.

"It is useful to try to find a way to attract men into teaching."

He added: "Over the last 12 years, teachers have had a below inflation pay rise so teaching is no longer a particularly well-paid job.

"If you are someone with a degree, unless you have a big commitment to the idea of teaching, you would look to another job because it pays better.

"We have reached a point where they have got to do something to put that right."

The DfE figures show that despite teaching being a female-dominated industry, men tend to earn more than women.

In Bradford schools, men earn £41,604 – five per cent more than women, who make £39,797 on average.

Men in the area get paid £39,201 on average when they work in the classroom and £76,141 as head teachers.

Meanwhile, female classroom teachers get an average of £38,690, and heads £72,497.

Mr Murch said: "It can happen because some women take maternity leave so they may progress more slowly, in terms of going up the career ladder.

"In the past, there was discrimination against women in terms of top jobs in teaching.

"I can remember when the vast majority of headships were men. That is not the case anymore, most heads are women."