Teacher Talk: This testing so young is stupid - the spontaneity of teaching is lost

Do you think we need more male teachers in primary schools? If so, how do we attract them?

Yes, because it's important to get good male role-models, particularly for children that have violent, promiscuous or absent male role-models. There's a contradiction here because most primary heads are male. It's difficult to know how to attract more men to primary teaching. Positive discrimination is too difficult. The public's perception of teaching needs to be improved.

Is there too much pressure on young children to do well at school?

There's too much pressure on young children to do well in tests. This testing so young is stupid. The spontaneity of teaching is lost. There used to be a lovely thing called dead-pigeon syndrome – the idea that a teacher could find a dead bird on the way to work and rush into school with it and scrub the planned lessons for a bit while the kids drew and measured and learnt about the pigeon. The curriculum is too prescriptive. Primary schools are now driven by Sats results. We have 56 per cent special-needs children. A lot of them have no chance of meeting national standards.

Does your school experience any problems with non-attendance of pupils?

No major problems. We keep a very close eye on it – sending letters out and working with the education welfare officers. Also, we lay down clear boundary lines. Our kids know what is acceptable. As well as the school rules, each Year has its own rules set by the children. We try to make school a nice place to be – clean, bright and stimulating. We put the TV on at 8am for the England vs Nigeria match and had a packed house.

Are you happy with your pay and conditions?

My job, relative to industry, is very underpaid. If I were to manage a business the size of my school, I'd be paid a lot more. The recent NAHT research on pay showed this. Teachers are never going to get a 35-hour week – the majority put in between 40 and 60 hours. They should be paid for the hours that have to be worked.

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