The recent conviction of Nathan Bennett, charged with sexual assault and rape of multiple children under the age of 13, has prompted a wider industry conversation around whether males should be allowed to work in early years education.
This debate has already reached mainstream platforms, including Jeremy Vine’s show on BBC Radio 2, where it sparked strong opinions from listeners across the country.
Like all parents, this news terrifies me. However, I fear that the conversation that it has fuelled, and the potential implications of it, could have a detrimental effect on children in education.
In my role as a forest school leader, I see firsthand the benefits for many boys of having male teachers or support staff in and out of the classroom.
I have had parents, classroom teachers, and even sometimes the children themselves expressing their appreciation of me and my team as positive male role models.
Boys are more likely than girls to ‘act up’ in the classroom, and the outdoor education we provide helps many boys regulate behaviour by offering hands-on, active learning that builds confidence, teamwork, and resilience.
Positive male role models in these settings can inspire stronger relationships and help students to develop a greater sense of pride in their learning.
In recent years, I have seen an increase in men wanting to pursue a career in education, and this is down to an ever-reducing stigma around what are ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ job roles.
Despite this increase, 75.6% of teachers are female, meaning there is still a huge misbalance, and lack of male role models.
Callers on BBC Radio 2 also debated whether removing men from these careers would be an “easy way to bring peace of mind to a lot of parents” when putting their children into education.
Developing conversations around this could reverse the progress that has been made towards reducing stigma and encouraging men to pursue a career in education.
Young men who aspire to teach will be made to feel like they are no longer welcome in the sector, and men who are already in these roles will feel uncomfortable in their position, and will experience self-consciousness when it comes to how they are perceived by parents and the wider community.
Jeremy Vine discussed the protection and safeguarding systems currently in place for all staff members, and how these have become stricter over time with the aim of protecting children.
The answer to preventing horrific acts, such as that committed by Nathan Bennett, isn’t to restrict half the population from a certain career, it is to continually review safeguarding measures and ensure they are effectively protecting children.
If this conversation continues in its current direction, there is a real risk that the education sector will become even more imbalanced, ultimately depriving children, particularly boys, of valuable role models and support.
Rather than questioning whether men should be in these roles at all, the focus must shift towards strengthening safeguarding, supporting high-quality teaching, and creating an inclusive environment where both men and women feel valued in education.
Failing to do so could undo years of progress, discourage future educators, and lead to a system that is weaker, not safer, for the very children it aims to protect.
References
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002s833?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
