Dads are being urged by the teacher training agency (TTA) to bring their untapped talents to the classroom and consider a career in teaching.

New research, published today by the TTA, shows that 84 per cent of graduate dads have been prompted to reconsider their priorities after having children.  A quarter have already changed their job so they can enjoy more quality family time.

Almost a third of dads (29 per cent) claim parenthood has made them more likely to consider becoming a teacher with more than half of these (55 per cent) acknowledging that they have new respect for teachers now they are parents.

Working with young people is a significant lure for dads with 75 per cent saying they would find seeing a young person’s knowledge develop an enjoyable aspect of teaching. Three quarters would be attracted to teaching by being able to spend school holidays with their families, 54 per cent to the flexibility of school working hours and 54 per cent to the intellectual challenge of the job.

Many dads also indicated that they had learnt a wide range of skills during parenthood, including improved communication skills (80 per cent) patience (64 per cent) and creativity (48 per cent) and 69 per cent said that being a parent had taught them how to describe things and communicate in much more interesting ways.

Mike Watkins, Acting director of teacher supply and recruitment for the TTA said: “Primary school teachers need to be able to communicate in ways which engage, enthuse and motivate young children.  This research suggests that becoming a dad has given many male graduates more experience and confidence in these skills.

Attractive pay, benefits and leadership opportunities – and the chance to work with young people – has attracted ever increasing numbers of men to train as primary teachers in recent years. However, even more men are needed and we are actively encouraging interested fathers with degrees to apply for teacher training places. What many men don’t realise in time is that competition for places is high and applications to train next September need to be in by 1^st December.”

All graduates interested in primary teacher training should visit the TTA Website Teach or call the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991 (-992 for Welsh speakers) to find out more.  Applications for most postgraduate initial teacher training courses are processed through the graduate teacher training registry and can be submitted online at the GTTR website. Applications for undergraduate teacher training courses can be made via the University and Colleges Admissions Service at the UCAS website.

Media enquiries

Mel Garfield at Band & Brown Communications. Tel: 020 7419 7312, email mel@bbpr.com or Rachael Shaw Tel: 020 7419 7335, email Rachael@bbpr.com

General TTA enquiries

0870 496 0123

Notes for editors

The research was carried out by PCP data (September - October 2004) and is based on a sample of 1125 graduate dads with children aged 3-16 years old.

A newly qualified teacher (NQT) can expect to start on a salary of at least £18,558 (£22,059 in inner London). The pay scale for good, experienced classroom teachers who have 'crossed the threshold' rises to £29,385 outside London and £34,851 in inner London. Additional allowances may be paid to teachers considered to be excellent, and to those who take on management and other responsibilities. The pay scale for head teachers can rise to over £90,000 depending on size of school.

Eligible trainees on postgraduate initial teacher training courses in England are entitled to a tax-free training bursary worth £6,000 (from September 2005 the amount is £7,000 for maths and science trainees)

Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) with a PGCE in a priority subject (mathematics, science, modern languages, English or drama, design and technology, and Information and communications technology) may also be eligible for a 'golden hello' payment worth £4,000 (taxable) after successfully completing their induction period. (From September 2005, the payment is £5,000 for maths and science teachers.) 

The teacher training agency was established under the Education Act 1994. Its purpose is to raise standards by attracting able and committed people to teaching, and by improving the quality of training for teachers and the wider school workforce.