any teachers working in international schools?

[waitingforsomething]

I'm currently thinking of applying for jobs in a country that DH are about to move to for a couple of years. I'm a qualified teacher and hope to get a contract for 1 or 2 years in an international school.
By the time the next school year rolls around I will have a 1 year old and a 3.5 year old. Has anyone been given nursery or school places for their 3+ children in their schools either free or subsidised? The jobs ive looked at haven't mentioned it but my mil thinks it's common practice

[Ancienchateau]

At the international school I know of, I believe you have to work there for a minimum number of years before you get a discount. This is a capital city in Europe so might not apply everywhere. Definitely worth asking.

[BoboChic]

Whether or not international schools give free places or discounts to teachers depends somewhat on the local market for teachers and for schools and whether you are looking for a job with an expat package. If you are relocating to a country with a weak national education system/unusual language and are going for a job in an international school with a relocation/expat package, free or highly subsidised places are the norm. However, if you are looking for a local-recruit position (sounds as if the driver for the move is your DH) in a comfortable country, you are less likely to be able to negotiate a fee subsidy for your children.

[waitingforsomething]

I don't need an expat package as Dhs company are providing us with this. It's Singapore so I don't know how much they need teachers in my subject- ive seen one to apply for. It would be a nice bonus and easier to be able to take dd with me but not a deal breaker on a job. Thank you!

[waitingforsomething]

We're in a bit of a funny situation in which DD is due to start reception in September 17. Dhs company provide a good package but will not include education for children so we are leaving in March and will have to be back August 17 so she's ready for school. We would like to be in Singapore for longer (2-3 years) but the school fees look fairly astronomical and we wouldn't be able to pay for these alongside the reasonably high cost of living in Singapore. If I could get a job for a couple of years that provides her a subsidised place we could stay a little longer but not sure how likely it is. I will ask anyway- nothing to lose!

[BoboChic]

Does your DH's package not include school fees?

[BoboChic]

Why doesn't your DH's package cover school fees?

[waitingforsomething]

No. It covers flights, removal, health insurance and accommodation allowance but no school fees. They make it clear they won't pay for this . His colleague has been out there for two years with older children and they are home educating them, which I'm not keen on.

[BoboChic]

Sounds dodgy to me.

[waitingforsomething]

Why? I guess school fees are very expensive especially for older children. It's an office transfer as their singapore office is in need of some help in training new staff. They are a large company not a small start up. We are happy to go now while the children are small as we can be back for school if necessary.

[BrianButterfield]

We're going to teach in Qatar and get full school fees paid for up to 4 kids but this is apparently an unusually generous package!

[BanningTheWordNaice]

I don't know about 'dodgy' but could be problematic. I lived in Brussels where many of the international schools that weren't European Schools charged Winchester fees for a day school - because they could as companies mostly paid them not individuals. Hopefully someone will come along with ideas specific to Singapore.

[waitingforsomething]

Annoying but I don't think dodgy. Just means we may have to come back a bit before we would like to

[waitingforsomething]

Brian that's great is it in the school you're working in?

[BrianButterfield]

Yes, it's a 4-18 school so DH (and hopefully I) will be working in the senior section and DC get fees paid and guaranteed places in KS1.

[BoboChic]

I think companies that don't pay school fees on long distance short term postings are exploiting their staff = dodgy.

[waitingforsomething]

Perhaps Dh needs to look at renegotiating this. Maybe if they want him to stay beyond August 17 (and we want to) they will pay for one reception school place. It's not like we have two kids in secondary

[fatowl]

If you're qualified and experienced to the point that they would want to recruit you, most decent schools will cover staff children's fees as part of the package.

There are so many international schools springing up in Asia that schools are competing for staff. Many teachers are put off Singapore as the cost of living is so high they can't save anything but you have that covered through Dh, so it's worth thinking about.
I'd get looking, many school are interviewing early Jan

[BoboChic]

I know of companies that pay for DCs' nursery place (even when their mothers are SAHMs). If your DC would normally be entitled to a free pre-school place in England, the company should be picking up the bill for same in the expat location.

[NotMoreFootball]

The International school I worked at let staff children attend with a 90% discount but only after 2 years of service. I also have to say that out of a student body of around 1,000, the vast majority had their fees paid by the parents employer. It sounds unusual that a large company do not include education costs and you DH should be negotiating for this.

[mmgirish]

I work in an international school. If you are employed on an overseas contract you usually get 2 school places either free or heavily subsidised. My advice is to apply from the uk before you move. Once you are in a country you could get employed as a local hire and you most likely won't get benefits such as school places.

[partialderivative]

It certainly used to be the norm that a decent ex-pat package would include school fees, but things are changing as the world economy shifts.

Should you get a job in a Singapore school, I presume it would be as 'local hire' status. I have no idea if you could get fees paid under those circumstances.

I have been teaching in international schools for a long time and have seen a variety of ways in which the children of staff are treated with regards fees. (4 children is exceptionally generous!).

If you do want to find a job before you go, you will need to start looking straight away. The Int School recruiting season is well underway.

Good luck!

[waitingforsomething]

Thank you. I have applied for 1 and there has just been an advert for teachers in my subject at a local state school so I will go for that too.

[ohtobeanonymous]

Good luck. Singapore very expensive and you are best to try and get hired as a Overseas teacher NOT local hire. If you get a job as the former you will have your own relocation package to look forward to, which will usually include full subsidy of school fees for up to two children (or significant discount). As fatowl said, recruiting season is in full swing and many of the more reputable schools have already interviewed and appointed but there are always last minute vacancies in good schools. Try the International Schools Review website for further info from other staff as to what various schools are like.

[iliketeaalot]

It doesn't sound unusual to me that your dh's company won't pay school fees. We're in Brussels thanks to dh's job and his is a large international company and they won't pay school fees either. Best of luck with the job hunt - I'm hoping to get back into teaching over here soon too!

[UKtoUSA]

Hello
Are you still thinking of working at an International School? It does depend on the school and country if you will get school places for kids. I taught at one for two years and got an excellent package as an overseas hire, the teachers with children were allowed school places for 2 children (not sure what they would do if they had 3). Some teachers were in your situation (moved over because of a partner's job) and didn't get the full allowances as they weren't an "overseas hire". They did still get places for their kids- but that might be something you have to negotiate. Good luck!