So you want to work at an international school?

Michael Strachan gives tips and advice for those hoping to make the move to teaching internationally.

I get to put on sunglasses every day when I drive to work. This simple act invariably puts me in a good mood; however, I am still driving to work and not the beach. When I first secured a job overseas over ten years ago the response from other teachers when I told them of my plans was identical – ‘It’ll be a holiday!’. There was one exception: my head of department. He told me that teaching internationally would ruin my career and that no school in the UK would ever employ me again. Such was the reputation of international schools in the past that it was safe to say that most UK teachers were fairly ignorant of what working in one entailed or how it would impact one’s career.  

Given the incredible increase in the number of international schools during the intervening period, this opinion has somewhat changed. More and more teachers are getting the opportunity to teach at international schools and the reputation of overseas schools as serious educational institutions has improved people’s opinions remarkably. With so many schools and countries to choose from, the whole prospect of starting a career overseas can seem somewhat overwhelming. 

So then, what sage words of advice can I give to a UK-based teacher who is looking to move overseas? Well, sadly there will be few answers in this piece, merely things that ought to be seriously considered before making the move. The obvious first question is why do you want to teach abroad? Are you looking to move overseas to experience a new culture and become fully integrated into the life of another country? or is the plan to earn as much tax-free cash as you can before returning home? Are you looking for somewhere with a nicer climate? or are you just sick of badly behaved children? 

The reasons for your move will influence the right destination for you personally so I would advise sitting down with a blank sheet of paper and listing the key motivators for your venture abroad. Now here’s the first spoiler: if you are looking for a lighter workload it is very unlikely you are going to find it. Yes, there may be less paperwork and bureaucracy but the demands of students and parents, as well as extra-curricular expectations, will certainly keep you busy. 

Now, once you have decided on your main rationale for leaving the UK you can start to think about the second big question: Where do you want to go? This again depends on you and your situation. If you are traveling as a family then the Middle east and South-East Asia are prime locations. Single teachers might be more adventurous and look as far afield as South America or the former Soviet republics. The key question really is what type of life you are happy with? Is living in a skyscraper in an urban setting something that excites you or would you prefer a villa in a suburb? Do you want to learn a new language or are you happy communicating in English most of the time? Would you like somewhere with a Waitrose or are you keen to eat like a local? Add your thoughts on these questions to your sheet of paper so that you can start to crystalise your ideas. 

Once you have decided on a region or country then it is time to do detailed research. Interrogate the websites of the schools in your chosen location as well as any government inspection agencies and, crucially, parental review websites - yes, parent reviews can often tell you a lot about a school. Top things to look for are the values and ethos of the school, is it an exam factory or is it aimed at producing well-rounded students? What curriculum is taught? Will you need to learn an entirely new way of teaching? Where are the majority of the staff recruited from? Will you be working with staff who trained in the UK or with staff who trained in a very different teaching philosophy? Are the students international or local? Each of these require different approaches and can be equally challenging. All of these factors will impact your overall experience and therefore require careful consideration. 

Once you have a clear idea of where you want to work it’s time to keep an eye out for vacancies. Interestingly not all international schools advertise on the major job sites so you may need to scour the vacancies sections of the school websites. There isn’t space in this piece to fully address the nuances of crafting a perfect CV for an international school but I can give a few pointers which may not be the norm when applying for jobs in the UK. Include a recent photo, your date of birth and your family situation. All of these are critical for recruitment staff at international schools as they need to know that they can secure you a work visa or indeed whether they can afford to employ you as a family is more expensive than a single teacher.

Finally, should you be offered an interview, make sure you ask about the ‘on-boarding’ process. Will the school pay for your flights and visa costs, or will you need to take care of these yourself? Ensure you ask about accommodation as some schools will expect you to share whilst others may just give you an allowance and then ask you to arrange your own place to stay. Although the freedom to choose might sound nice, do you really want the hassle of house hunting on top of adjusting to a new country? By clarifying these points you will be in the best position to make an informed decision if you do get offered a job. 

So, as promised not much by way of answers but plenty to think about before making the first step overseas. In summary, the key takeaway is to make sure you do your research as it will save problems down the track. The benefits of international teaching far outweigh the risks so I would strongly suggest giving it a try.