Teaching overseas

[Kkin]

My husband and I both teach in the UK and are now considering moving abroad with out two girls (3 and 5). I've seen jobs to suit us both at Epsom College in Malaysia, but have read both good and bad reviews from staff, so am not sure what to make of it.

If anyone has any experience of teaching abroad with children I'd welcome advice; specifically on:

Where in the world would you say is most family friendly?

Do children of teaching staff usually get reduced fees?

Did you manage financially to keep your home in the Uk? Did you rent it out to stay on the property ladder in the UK?

Did your children enjoy living abroad and how often did you get home?

Is there anything that I need to ask/look out for from the schools that I apply to?

I have many more questions, but to be honest any advice would be welcome. It's a massive step!

Dh and I have been teaching internationally for 8 years. We love it and will never live in the UK again.
Have you looked on TES? That should be your first step.

Dd2 was born while we were living overseas so doesn't know any different. Dd1 lived at home until she was 5, but has spent most of her life overseas and is a happy, well adjusted teenager. We dont have a home anywhere so can't answer your questions about that.

Most decent schools will give 2 free spots per teacher. We would never work in a place that didn't offer free places for our Dcs.

We have lived in 2 large cities and are currently in a small town in Thailand. Pros and cons, but life is pretty incredible. I am grateful for the opportunities we have.

DH is from England, I am from North America so we don't go home every year. We alternate summers between our home countries and spend xmas and half terms travelling where we want to be. We are lucky that we have parents (my parents are divorced) that like to travel and will come to visit us. On the other side, last year we had back to back visitors for 5 months.

I don't know the school you mentioned- have you looked on ISR? (International schools review) . You need to pay, but we get memberships when we are looking for work and think it is totally worth it.

I think your dcs are a perfect age to move overseas. I would definitely go for it.

Thanks so much for the information and advice; I'm going to apply and ask lots of questions if I get an interview. I think we'd really like to go for it, but need to make sure the school is the right fit for us.

One of my main concerns was the girls and how they'd find it, so thanks for your feedback on that too.

One more question; do you have any sort of pension when employed by an international school?

Thanks again

DH and I are also a teaching couple - have worked in a couple of European cities and Middle East.

Definitely the best choice we've made as a family. 2 DDs born abroad so don't know anything else.

You should get on the TES teaching overseas forum and run a search on Malaysia. Also join a group called 'empowering expat teachers' on Facebook. It's a bit ME skewed but I just ran a search and plenty of Malaysia posts and info.

Family friendly - whenever I've seen that question come up and spoken to colleagues south east Asia comes top of the list. I think even more so with very young kids as live in help is normal and very affordable. That wouldn't be for me but a lot of teachers love the flexibility it brings. We've found each location we've been in great for families too though.

As pp said it is normal to get 2 school places fully funded. 3 can be less common - even as a teaching couple they won't necessarily allow you 2 each! Also I have been chatting to other teachers about new contracts in ME and 75% or only 1 place becoming more common. That would be a deal breaker for us. Just like the UK some schools need to balance budgets and will only appoint so many 'expensive hires' with dependents and then fill posts with cheaper, young single staff. Your subject/stage will affect your desirability and what they might offer. Do push for both of you to arrive on contracts - schools may offer one package and promise you work will come up for the 'trailing spouse' but i would strongly advise against that.

We also sold our home before leaving UK but many do not. You are allowed use both your allowances against the rental income after repairs/maintenance so depending on area/rents you might not have to pay too much tax but it will mean having to do annual tax return.

Our kids love it. We go home 3/4 times a year from Europe, 1/2 from ME. It's normal to have a lot of coming and going in international classes so noone is ever the new kid for long and they adapt and make friends so quickly.

Things to look out for re:package. Medical insurance - are kids covered too? Annual flights - again just for staff or dependents? Accommodation - normal to be provided in some countries but check the small print for size/location/utilities etc. Relocation allowance? If you can get on the ISR definitely worthwhile, once you are ok the international circuit then word of mouth more helpful - someone always knows someone who's been there! It's a bit of a chore but free for UK teachers - set up a Search Associates profile. We didn't end up getting jobs from them but the comparator info they have on schools is very useful to have access to.

Other things to think of is if you have a preference of curriculum? There are a number of British schools everywhere using modified English primary /ks3 curricula, IGCSE and sometimes A level but if you can get IB experience that opens up a lot of doors for future positions.

Final thought. It's rather late in the recruitment cycle. Best schools typically recruit early - Nov - Feb/march is peak season. I don't know Malaysia but I would be questioning why advertised so late. It might be fine but it's probably more worth doing your research for Sept 2020.

Good luck!

Pension. Out of 3 schools we only had this in 1 school in Europe. More common to make own arrangements. And easier long term if you move around to have private rather than lots of bits here and there to keep track of.

Family friendly = Amsterdam. Not too far for you first posting. I've no teaching experience but kids went to BSA and it was a lovely atmosphere.

None of my 3 schools have had a pension but dh is obsessed with the book Millionaire teacher and we follow a lot if what is spoken about there. Plus we pay monthly NI contributions.
Agree the peak season for hiring is over, but jobs do come up all the time. My current school asks for our intention letters for the following year in November, and jobs are posted over the xmas hols. The big job fairs take place in London and Bangkok in January / February.

I'm not sure how clear they make this in the publicity about the school, but Epsom is in the middle of nowhere, at least an hour out of KL. It's boarding and most staff live on site. You really need to get on with your colleagues if you work at Epsom!

However, moving my family to teach abroad was a great decision and we've never looked back.

As it's Malaysia you will get 'EPF' pension which is a very high rate. Real positive about teaching in Malaysia. Google it/ask about it in your interview.

Malaysia is very family friendly. The locals love children. Our kids love it here. Their quality of life is very good.

My perception of Epsom is that the vast majority of its intake are middle class/rich Asians. The very few western kids are teachers' children.

Facilities seem fantastic at Epsom, it's a new campus.

Thanks all for all of the info. I've filled in my application for Epsom, but do have reservations about living so far out. I am concerned about us being isolated and not having much to do outside of the school. I'm also concerned about the very long hours at Epsom; 6 long days (?), so will I see my girls even less than I do now?!!

Things are getting tough with teaching over here and we've contemplated this move for several years, so it feels like the right time for us as a family. As was suggested, it might mean waiting for the 2020 recruitment cycle.

I came out with the expectation of a better work life balance. But I haven't managed to achieve it. The hours are still long, the pressure is still there. You can't switch off. And unlike a UK school you typically live among the community you teach. There's little escape. But I still wouldn't go back to the UK. The holiday opportunities are amazing, childcare is cheap and often very good. The students are great. Our children are happy and go to a brilliant school, with lots of opportunities and fantastic facilities.

It's worth taking the leap.

Thanks for the honesty with regards to teaching outside of the UK. We're definitely going to go for it over the next year or so, but hopefully with our eyes open to the realities! A decent education for my girls will be the deciding point.

Definitely have a look at ISR for honest reviews and to get a 'feel' for places.
I have taught in the ME for 5 years and would not go back now. I'm here on my own but my colleagues with kids love it out here - where I am is all about camping on the beach or in the desert or mountains. Fab lifestyle, tax free, no OFSTED....

No OFSTED! Now you're talking!! We've applied for Epsom and will now wait and see. We'll then register with the agency recommended and I'll definitely pay for the ISR, although I had a look at the schools on it and I couldn't see Epsom; maybe it's too new?

I guess it might take a while to get something suitable and I am worried that we won't appeal to the schools as we have dependents and are not core subjects, but fingers crossed we'll escape the UK before too long!!

as we have dependents and are not core subjects

Just to get involved in this, I got offered 3 international jobs this season and that's with a non-teaching spouse and 2 school age children so an even less attractive prospect that you! And also not in a core subject!

I took the last offer of the three - my children are just a little older than yours and we are getting excited for the adventure.

My DH and I are a teaching couple and have been in Asia for 7 years. Both high demand subjects/areas of expertise. We are due our first baby and moving to a new school for the next academic year.

Lots of good info on here already. I did want to reinforce the work life balance. We work in what is rather snottily considered a "top tier school". I work harder than I've ever worked in my life. Yes, the pay is good, benefits etc but honestly it's exhausting and burn out is real. Think about what you want from the experience and what life style you want for your family would be my advice.

I know this is an old post but I have some questions about Epsom. Hope you dont mind that I have dropped you a PM @megandraper5