An ex-teacher from HK

[jameslee1224]

Hello everyone, I'm coming to the UK next year and I will settle in Manchester. I'm an English teacher in HK, locally bred and trained, with 10 years of experience. Being passionate about teaching I aspire to continue my career in the UK, but here comes the problem. Unlike my Maths and Science counterparts, it's difficult for me to teach in a secondary school in the UK as my quasi-TESOL teaching experience is irrelevant to the local English curriculum. English isn't my mother tongue either. If I really wish to continue my career in the UK, which path(s) should I try? I know it's relatively easy to find a TA position but I wish I could be a 'real' teacher again. Look forward to your precious advice. Thanks~

Are you a qualified teacher or toefl/toesl qualified?

if you are qualified in HK, there is advice here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-qualified-teacher-status-qts-if-you-teach-outside-the-uk/routes-to-qualified-teacher-status-qts-for-teachers-and-those-with-teaching-experience-outside-the-uk#qts-exemption-for-teachers-from-outside-the-uk

if you are toefl/toesl qualified, private schools may have some interest and/or private language schools maybe interested. The fact you are not a native English speaker, however, may be problematic.

I'm qualified/registered in HK but not TESOL qualified. Actually I'm thinking if I can work as an unlicensed teacher in primary schools and embark on the Assessment Only route to gain QTS.

From that link, you can apply to be any qualified teacher as long as you show you’re qualified in HK. There aren’t as many unqualified teacher roles especially in primary so it’s worth applying for the roles that say QTS is necessary

Only those from EEA and the big 4 English-speaking countries can attain QTS 'hassle-free'. Others including we HK teachers need either a PGCE or an assessment.

Chinese language teaching is growing in the UK, particularly in private schools. If you can offer Standard Chinese you are likely to be very employable.

You can work for four years as an overseas-trained teacher in state schools before you need to get QTS. I have put several OTTs through assessment-only QTS and it’s fairly straightforward.