Key Takeaways
- A growing number of older men are retraining as teachers after decades working in different jobs, with over half of the Now Teach network being male.
- These men bring unique life experiences and skills to the classroom, making them valuable role models for students, particularly boys.
- Now Teach, a charity that helps career changers become teachers, has had its state funding cut, but believes it could hire almost 1,000 more male teachers if funding were restored.
- The importance of male role models in the classroom is highlighted by the need to address toxic masculinity and provide positive examples of kindness and responsibility.
- Older men switching to teaching via Now Teach have an average starting age of 50 and come from a variety of backgrounds, including business, entrepreneurship, and management.
Introduction to Now Teach
Now Teach is a charity that helps career changers become teachers, and it has seen a significant increase in the number of older men applying to the program. These men, who have spent decades working in different jobs, are bringing their unique life experiences and skills to the classroom. One such example is Stephen Hargreaves, a 52-year-old former investment manager who has swapped his high-stress job for a career in teaching. Despite being expelled from school at 15 and having to take English and maths GCSEs for the first time this year, Hargreaves is finding his new role rewarding and challenging.
The Importance of Male Role Models
The importance of male role models in the classroom cannot be overstated. With men making up only about a third of the teaching workforce, there is a need for more positive male role models to provide guidance and support to students, particularly boys. The Adolescence television show, which told the story of a boy who murdered a female classmate, highlighted the need for more positive examples of masculinity. David Gandy, a model, is calling for a "masculinity reset" to tackle portrayals of incompetence and toxic masculinity. Hargreaves, who has experienced his own share of challenges, including being physically abused by a teacher at primary school, is well-equipped to provide the kind of support and guidance that students need.
The Challenges of Teaching
Teaching is a challenging profession, and it requires a unique set of skills and qualities. Hargreaves, who has had to complete a qualification equivalent to GCSE maths and English, is finding the work rewarding but also demanding. He is working with academics to conduct research about the importance of self-esteem in children and plans to write a book on the subject. Hargreaves believes that schools are brilliant at safeguarding and keeping children physically safe, but that they often fail to address underlying problems such as trauma and low self-esteem. He wants to work with teachers to address these issues and provide students with the support they need to succeed.
The Benefits of Older Teachers
Older teachers, like Hargreaves, bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the classroom. They have often had successful careers in other fields and are able to provide students with valuable insights and guidance. Now Teach, which has an average starting age of 50 for its male converts, believes that older teachers are an asset to the education system. The charity’s chief executive, Graihagh Crawshaw-Sadler, says that men want to be teachers, but often face barriers to entry. Now Teach’s conversion rates between men and women are near parity, which suggests that with the right support, men can make a successful transition to teaching.
The Future of Teaching
The future of teaching looks bright, with a growing number of older men retraining as teachers. Now Teach believes that it could hire almost 1,000 more male teachers by the end of this parliament if its state funding were restored. The charity’s work is crucial in addressing the need for more male role models in the classroom and providing students with the support and guidance they need to succeed. As Hargreaves says, "If you learn nothing else in life, it is key to be in the place you need to be, do the job you need to do, at the time you said you would do it." With the right support and training, older men like Hargreaves can make a real difference in the lives of students and help to shape the next generation of leaders.
