SCHOOLS are heading for female domination as the male teacher heads towards extinction, union leaders warned last night.

A survey by The Northern Echo has revealed that in some parts of the region, women teachers outnumber men by as many as ten to one.

Teaching unions say the profession in still not being made attractive enough for any recruits, but particularly men, with issues over pay one of the main concerns.

Brian Garvey, North Yorkshire national executive member for the NASUWT, said: "The profession is heading towards female domination in terms of numbers. I think that unless the Government and society does something to address it, then I can only see the situation getting worse."

The authorities with the highest female-to-male ratios include Sunderland, Durham County and Hartlepool.

Dame Mavis Grant, headteacher at all-female Canning Street Primary, in Newcastle, said she brought in many male role models for pupils as she could, from Newcastle United football coaches to youngsters from secondary schools on work experience.

"The lack of male teachers is a great pity because it is very important that all children have male role models in schools," she said.

"I think we are losing a key element in terms of children's general preparation for life, as well as their education, by not having more men in primary schools."

Terry Bladon, a teacher at Eastbourne Comprehensive, in Darlington, for 29 years and senior vice-president of the NASUWT, said male recruitment problems were also evident in secondary schools.

"I think that for many men who may have families to support, they can earn more money for a professional job with less hassle."

The figures came as The Teacher Training Agency (TTA) revealed that it had missed its target of attracting 20 per cent more men to the profession by September last year. Recent figures showed the number was nearer 12.6 per cent.

A spokesman for the TTA said: "We have got very difficult targets and we are doing our best to meet them.

"We are committed to attracting more male trainees and are making efforts to do that through different communication routes and making it clear that the pay scale between primary and secondary is the same."