Primaries short of male teachers

A quarter of primary schools in England still have no registered male teachers, despite a rise in the number of men entering the profession.

The government says there's a need for more male authority figures in the classroom and is launching a scheme later this year encouraging former soldiers to become teachers.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said more male teachers were needed but they were put off by worries that teacher-pupil contact was a "legal minefield".

Sean Humphreys, who is the policy advisor for the National association of head teachers, says a 'cultural legacy' has resulted where working with children in general, has become a more female orientated occupation .