The teaching profession is now attracting more male teachers, according to data from the Teaching Agency (TA).
Over the last four years there has been a 50% increase in the number of male trainee primary teachers throughout the UK.
Surprisingly more men than women are choosing teaching as a career path, with five times more men opting to train as primary school teachers.
While in 2008/09 there were 2,476 trainee male primary teachers this figure has now nearly doubled to 3,743 in 2011/12.
Commenting on the gender shift in teaching, Lin Hinnigan, the interim chief executive of the TA, said: "Primary teaching is increasingly a career for the most able graduates. It offers the opportunity to earn a good salary and progress quickly."
The TA argues that progression is more rapid in teaching than other jobs for graduates, with teachers twice as likely to achieve positions in the management team within three and a half years.
After teaching for seven years Darren McCann was promoted to deputy head of a primary school in Astley, Greater Manchester. He said: "I'd always done well at school and initially thought I'd want to be a doctor or a lawyer. This all changed after I visited a school for work experience. A career in teaching shot to the top of my list.
"It was my ambition that directed me to primary teaching specifically – there are great opportunities for progression – and I've reaped the benefits of that decision."
Hinnigan added that there had never been a better time to consider a career in teaching.
The UK Graduate Careers Survey, conducted by High Fliers Research, also showed that careers in education were beginning to take a larger share of the graduate job market. The survey put schools and universities as the second most popular type of employer, with 9% of graduates stating that they are interested in working in the sector.
The average range for graduate starting salaries is between £17,720 and £23,335, while UK teachers begin on an average salary of £23,010.This is even higher for teachers in inner London inner who start on £27,000.Those starting Initial Teacher Training this year can also apply for tax-free bursaries of up to £20,000.