'Harsh' male teachers are bad for boys' learning

A controversial report has called into question the drive by ministers to recruit more men to the classroom as teaching fast becomes an all-female profession - especially at primary level.

Contrary to claims that boys benefit from male authority figures, the research suggested they do not improve grades or behaviour.

In fact, it claimed men can be too tough on male pupils whereas women teachers treat the sexes more equally.

The Government report, Gender and Education: The Evidence on Pupils in England, also found that girls are ahead of boys in almost every subject at every age.

But Professor John Howson, of Oxford Brookes University, an expert in education recruitment, said the study's sample size was too small.

"Men coming into the profession 20 or 30 years ago may have a different philosophy of teaching to people coming in now," he added.

"If men are not getting the best from boys, they should modify their performance - not be excluded."

Graham Holley, chief executive for the Training and Development Agency for Schools, said: "I want to see more men in primary teaching because I believe the teaching workforce should be as diverse and representative as society as a whole.

"It is a horrifying statistic that half of all children between five and eleven have no contact with male teachers.

"Parents are unequivocal: in a survey in 2005, three quarters of them said they wanted to see more men teaching in primary schools.

"Until recently the number of men in primary schools was declining. It is now starting to improve.

"I want to make sure we exploit all possible sources for teacher recruitment. We have shortages in some subjects and areas, and if we are not recruiting as many men as we might, then we are ignoring a rich source."