Teaching Overseas

[Avebury]

DH has decided he would quite like to do a stint teaching abroad and is currently contemplating applying for a job in Malaysia.

We have primary aged DC and I have no idea whether to encourage or discourage him with this plan. Part of me thinks it would be great to show the DC a different culture for a while and we would only consider schools that followed the British curriculum but the other part of me thinks the idea of uprooting everyone is crazy.

Any advice from those who have done it?

I've taught in 2 other countries as a trailing spouse, we had a great experience.

We've got 2 children who went to school overseas and have happily settled in England now.
A word of warning to research carefully the school and the package (accommodation, visas, schooling, healthcare etc.) if your husband is going to be the sole breadwinner then your whole lives there will be dependent on the school. I've heard some horror stories. TES is good for information - the teaching overseas forum.
Good luck!

Thank you. I did try looking on there but as they seem to have a 'don't name the school' policy it is a bit tricky to read between the lines!

These might help too:

www.expatwoman.com/malaysia.aspx

britishexpats.com/forum/malaysia-148/

Happy to answer any general expat questions.

Thank you. One question I do have is how hard it was to find a job on your return? As in did schools take overseas experience seriously or treat you as if you were a bit irresponsible and had effectively had an extended grown up gap year?
Currently DH's cv is very good with HOD experience, a wealth of pastoral responsibilities and he is currently on the SLT in a very sought after independent school but I don't know enough about the system to know how some time abroad would be viewed as we would definitely want to be back here by the time our eldest was 13.

I had no problem getting a job.
Everyone I taught with overseas who returned had no problems either. Most schools seem to be very interested in how things are done elsewhere.

Obviously this depends on the part of the country you will be returning to, his subject etc. A maths or science specialist is always going to get work.

Currently teaching in Egypt with 3 dc in tow.

It's been fantastic so far, for me & the kids.

I would say that I know an awful lot of bored 'trailing spouses' though! (I'm a lone parent). You need to think what you'd be doing whilst dh is teaching...

Thanks for all the insight - lots to think about.