To go abroad?

[JacktomyDaniel]

Will try and keep this short! Suffered with MH all my life. 2 under 4 and a husband who (whilst coping!) also has MH issues. He works part time and is SAHD rest of week to avoid childcare costs. I work full time as a teacher which I love (kids) but hate (relentless pressure).
We own (mortgaged) an amazing 4 bed house in a nice area next to a reasonable school.
My mum thinks that it would make a considerable difference to MH to move somewhere where the pace of life is slower, the teaching is more about teaching and the weather is nice so that the kids can “live” outdoors (they are very outdoor kids!)
I need my Mum but appreciate the benefit of FaceTime etc.
I would be more comfortable somewhere mainland Europe but don’t know much about teacher there. How similar/different is it to the Scottish curriculum?
The “easiest” option would be Middle East with excellent relocation packages, weather, schools etc but it’s so far away and such a different culture. We do know people who have done this very, very successfully and appear to have an amazing lifestyle.
I don’t really know what I’m looking from this post? Just advice...good or bad and anyone who has done it.
Thanks.

I did it. It was awesome. Different stress. How old are you?

I teach in the ME, but am here on my own so I can't answer some elements of your post.
Where I am, the emphasis is definitely more on the well-being of the children (and teachers) as we are not beholden to data, league tables. OFSTED etc. We still work damn hard, but certainly I feel that my effort goes into things that benefit the children rather than mindless box-ticking.
A couple of things:

• There is a HUGE difference between different countries in the ME (just as in Europe). I am in a very liberal one; but I also have friends teaching in Saudi where life is compound-based BUT the rewards are sky high and they are setting themselves up financially for life.
• There is a huge difference between schools. If you teach in a 'top flight' school you may have the same pressures as the UK. Look at ISR (International Schools Review) for unbiased (ish!) info. Some schools are profit making; some are not. I am very lucky to be in a school which is non-profit making (all monies spent on kids/staff) but also has a good rep and good management.

How old are your children?

Sorry just read that part!

I teach abroad and love it. 2 small children. For us a big part of the appeal was simply living abroad - we wanted a different culture, possibility of children learning another language, and the outdoor lifestyle. But also the packages are (in many cases) SO much better than in the UK. Unfortunately this is not the case in Western Europe, but in the ME and Asia it is normal to have help with accommodation, free school places for your kids, flights home each year etc. All that on top of even a fairly modest salary results in an entirely different life and prospects than a similar role in the UK.

I would encourage anyone in teaching to consider it. Definitely do you research though, schools vary wildly. Some are very poorly-run, others are GREAT. I definitely agree with a pp who said it's a different kind of stress from the UK.

We went back to the UK after a fairly brief stint abroad, partly out of guilt being away from our parents, and barely last a year before looking abroad again. Now we don't really see ourselves going back to the UK for more than a visit!

If you want more advice check out the 'Teaching overseas' forum on TES.

Thank you all, definitely some food for thought x