Thinking about teaching overseas - experience/advice?

[VioletVodka]

Combination of marital turbulance, not being terribly impressed with dc's imminent secondary options, & feeling that having outlasted Gove my work here is done .

Any suggestions/advice? Currently eyeing up a job in Malaysia. Dc would get v subsidised places, accommodation thrown in, promising looking salary package...

I'm an experienced teacher in a core subject, with excellent track record & references, but perhaps a bit long in the tooth (mid 40s). Is anyone going to want me?

Go for it!

Of course they'll want you!
I did five years overseas teaching, best thing ever. Apart from my family of course!

Nice to hear .

where were you teaching?

You don't need to go abroad to escape the terrible teaching culture in England. Just come to Scotland. I'm a full time primary teacher up here and I cannot relate at all to any of the posts where people are talking about horrible SMT, being told you aren't good enough and having so much paperwork that it's unmanageable.

Not saying it's a walk in the park, just saying that the culture is clearly much healthier and much more supportive.

I'm a school governor in Malaysia and a teacher (at a different school) , happy to give advice on specific schools if you need.

I've been teaching overseas for 17 years and love it. I get to teach not police and there is less paper work. I spent two years back in the UK and hated it. I get accommodation, flights, medical insurance and free education for my DD.
Go for it.

International schools are crying out for teachers; they take the good, the bad and the ugly! Just do your homework! Re the Malaysia job if it's the mentoring scheme do a lot more research it's not a good one, especially if you're out in the sticks.
We've been teaching overseas for 14 years, and the one thing I'd say is if you're experiencing some emotional stuff now relocating to the ends of the earth won't make it any better, it'll just be strife in a different place. Whether you want to stay together or you want to go it alone make sure your head's clear before you jump on a plane. Seen too many people pull a geographical and end up in a real mess.

I teach in Singapore and love it, my colleagues have taught all over the world. Fire away with any questions.

Hi again - sorry about lack of responses. Last ditch attempt at resolving marital difficulties. Has failed & head is now clear!

Talk to me about Singapore, yearofthegoat. A mate was educated there & hated it, but this was 20 years ago!

Good place for kids?

I've been teaching overseas for a LONG time.

My first word of advice would be to steer clear of 'for profit' schools.

It's a sweeping statement, but as a rule of thumb it works

It is hot and sticky but the sun shines almost every day. The packages are good at the top schools, the students are lovely and the facilities are great. The school trips are amazing.

Shops are open until 10pm so you can shop after school. There are thousands of cafes and restaurants, Sentosa has Universal Studios and beaches (with a view of oil tankers but you can't have everything). There are museums, gardens, pandas, a night safari, F1, concerts (we had One Direction here last week) and amazingly fast wifi everywhere.

Singapore is a good place for teenagers as they can travel around on public transport and it is very safe.

Prices of cars are horrendous though, so most teachers manage without one, which is ok as long as you're not lugging a cello and do live close to a bus route or MRT.

PS Like Partial I would urge caution if looking at any for-profit schools.

Thanks ladies - useful advice.

Dumb question: how can I spot the 'for profits' at a glance? They all just seem to call themselves Something International School!

Also, yearofthegoat, what's a competitive salary over there? & how expensive is it to educate dc? Are subsidised places at one's school a usual thing?

Sorry to bombard you!

Just have a search around on the schools which are advertising. UWC and TTS are non profit. Chatsworth and the Australian School are profit. I'm not sure about the others.

Free or reduced fees for up to two children is the norm, though you will pay tax on this benefit.

The salaries vary hugely depending which school it is.

A not for profit school will probably tell you on their website.

A for profit school may not be so open.

Chains of schools, like Nord Anglia or Gems tend to be profit schools as well.

The not for Profits are usually educational Trusts, like Tanglin Trust, and it should be clear on their websites, check under governance.

Not all For Profits are necessarily bad employers, but I do agree to proceed with caution.

I'd be interested in what other overseas teacher think of the "branded" schools like Dulwich and Marlborough. Obviously they will say they are just like the big name school in the UK, but I know there is some belief that they are just a franchise with minimal links to the "parent" school in the UK.

OP, I notice you were originally eyeing up a job in Malaysia.

The main Not for Profits in Malaysia are The Alice Smith School, International School of KL (ISKL - US curriculum), St Christophers in Penang and the British School (which is part of a larger chain but claims to be a NFP foundation- not sure how it works exactly)

The other big players in Malaysia are Taylors Group, who own several schools in Malaysia with a good rep.
There is also Nexus International (again a chain - they also have a school in Singapore)

My friend left the UK, aged early 40s, armed with experience in a core subject and with two young DCs, and got work easily. Good luck.