School pupils in the Isle of Man could be missing out on having a crucial role model, according to research.

The Training and Development Agency has revealed that only 13 per cent of the United Kingdom's primary school teachers are male, and the Department of Education here has confirmed numbers on the Island are consistent with those findings.

It's claimed men are being put off teaching because they fear being accused of abusing pupils, but a study has found boys do better when they have a male role model in the classroom.

Acting general secretary for the National Union of Teachers Christine Blower (pictured) believes the profession needs to be made more appealing: "What we want to do is continue making sure we are making teaching attractive to men and to women.

"One of the reasons we aren't getting enough people in is we're not actually paying them enough at the moment."