BECOMING a primary school teacher has been a lifelong dream for Phil Towey.

And after all the hard work, the 21-year-old is now preparing to celebrate his first Christmas with his class at Penketh Primary School.

But as one of the few male reception class teachers in the town and one of the youngest, Phil said that it has never bothered him that he works in a female dominated profession.

The former St Gregory’s RC High School student said: “I have always wanted to teach primary school children.

“My mum and dad are both teachers so I was always spending time in schools from a young age and I always wanted to be a teacher just like my parents.”

But when he began his course in early years education at Edge Hill University, near Omrskirk, he said he was a bit shocked to discover that he was one of only two male students in a year of more than 70 undergraduates.

Phil, who grew up in Penketh but now lives in Westbrook, said: “I was always aware that there were more female teachers, even when I was in primary school myself.

“But it never stopped me wanting to be a teacher and I have never been bothered by it.

“It’s a shame if something like that puts people off.

“In some ways I think it helps to have a mix of male and female teachers in primary schools. It can be nice for those children who might come from a single parent family.

“But I definitely don’t think being male makes you better at the job.

“At the end of the day, what matters is being a good teacher and it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman.”

And he added that working with young pupils has been even livelier than he expected.

He said: “You have got to have a lot of energy if you are going to work with kids.

“When I first got up in front of my class it was terrifying, probably the most scared I have ever been.

“But I’m settling in well, I’m really enjoying my job.”

“Just teaching the children and seeing how much progress they make is the best part of my job.

“Even though they only arrived in September I can already see how far they have come.”

Phil added that he hopes hit Channel Four television shows like The Secret Life of Four Year Olds and Educating Greater Manchester are raising the profile of teachers’ work.

And at a time of great change in the profession, he hopes future school leaders will not be put off a career in education.

He said: “It can be a challenging job but if you enjoy it and you want to be there for the pupils that’s the main thing.

“If there are any boys out there thinking of a career in education I would just say go for it.

“If you have a passion for teaching then everything else will fall into place.

“It’s your class and you have got to do your best for them.”