Does my CV make me unemployable? (primary teacher)

[Tealightsandfairycakes]

My CV is an utter mess and I don't know what I can do to fix it. I haven't been able to stick to a school or country for a long time and I'm afraid I'll never get a chance in the kind of school I'd like to settle down in.

Here's what I've done:

• 2 years in England at a state primary
• 2 years in KS2 in at a private international school in country 1
• 2 years teaching maths in country 2 at a bilingual state middle school
• 1 year in country 2 teaching primary at a bilingual school
• 1 term at an SEN school in the UK (I took a totally unsuitable job because I needed to move back to the UK)
• 1 year maternity cover in a primary school in the UK
• Gap unemployed between Christmas holidays to February half term
• 1 semester in country 3 a Southern Hemishphere international school (their school year starts in Feb)

I will be leaving country 3 in August and returning to the UK but there are no schools currently hiring in my area (Newquay). I've basically never had any additional responsibility beyond being a classroom teacher because I've always been new. I am a qualified swim teacher but that's more useful in fancy private schools than the kind of little primary school by the sea which I am dreaming of. I am breaking my contract with my current school because it's been an utter disaster and I am so unhappy here, but I am terrified I will never find another job.

Do supply for a bit? You'll have no shortage of work.

Have you not considered other teaching roles across Cornwall instead of Newquay - the A30 isn’t a bad road to commute on tbh!

I think your work history looks interesting rather than making you appear unemployable. Not being up to date with current practice in schools in England shouldn't be a barrier as you can read up and learn quickly, plus you've gained a rich and varied experience teaching abroad.
I took two career breaks from teaching to travel and found supply teaching the best way to find work in England, when I returned part way through an academic year.

In my experience, as someone who has taught internationally also, it can be difficult getting back into a British state school as many are suspicious of/sniffy about international school experience. Rather than seeing it as a strength that you've got experience of teaching cross-culturally, teaching bilingual and ESL/EAL students, and are internationally/globally minded with a head full of new and interesting teaching ideas learned from colleagues who have trained all over the world, some lack the imagination to see anything other than 'doesn't have recent National Curriculum experience.'

There is also a bit of a stigma, I find, with international teaching - some people seem to see it as something people who can't get a job in the UK do. Of course there are a lot of tinpot schools out in Asia and the ME that will hire anyone with a pulse, but the highly competitive world of international school teaching, with its amazing salaries and perks, is certainly no longer something for teachers with dodgy backgrounds as it may once have been. I was asked once 'what were you running away from, then?' - by someone interviewing me, which sums up the prejudice so many people have about international teaching! My response? 'A crap salary and work-life balance!'

To make yourself appealing to state schools, you need to make it clear that
a) you have excellent experience teaching students for whom English is not a first language - this is increasingly relevant in many parts of the UK
b) you are a Maths specialist! You are gold dust!
c) you are incredibly adaptable and flexible, having taught a variety of international curricula to a high standard, and will not find it difficult to pick the National Curriculum requirements back up
d) you have had the opportunity to learn from a variety of international pedagogies which has broadened, deepened and enlivened your practice
e) you bring a global mindset to the classroom, which is essential to building globally minded citizens
f) you are adventurous, innovative and creative - all essential elements of an inspiring teacher

If you do find it a struggle after applying for a few posts, you might find it easier to get back via an international or independent school in the UK. I also think being fixated on such a small area as Newquay - where there are very few schools to start off with - is probably a bit unrealistic. There is a national shortage of primary teachers, but somewhere like Cornwall is certainly not going to be struggling to recruit, so I would suggest widening your search area.

Good luck!

I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m in London. I’ve spent 7 years abroad on and off teaching in international schools. 7 years in two different boroughs and some supply. I haven’t worked at a school for longer than 3 years and and now worked at 8 schools. I’ve never had an issue getting a permanent job as some schools do value experience and variety and if you are strong at interview they will want to hire you.

My current school when I interviewed were amazed by my experience - I get that London is different to Cornwall though in terms of vacancies. Supply or a temp contract might help. My fixed 6 month contract led to a permanent job.

The fact there aren't schools recruiting in your area is surely in part the time of year? At this point, most schools would be aiming to have all roles filled for September, so wouldn't be actively advertising.

I'd also say that the teacher shortage isn't quite as bad in Cornwall as in some other areas- it's getting worse, but it's still better than in a lot of places. This means that primary jobs can be hard to come by, so you may need to expand your search radius out a bit? How far are you willing/able to commute?

This isn't the point of the thread, but the A30 past Truro is pretty hellish to commute on right now due to the ongoing works.

I agree OP may need to consider commuting, but the A30 really isn't great right now!

I would suggest that you consider initially seeking a job in a different part of the UK so that you can move back to Newquay when the right job is available.

I've been in several primary schools in Berkshire/Buckinghamshire/Wiltshire in the last couple of weeks who still have vacancies for September - my guess is that the whole of the greater London area, in fact all of the south east, there will still be vacancies in decent schools who will snap your hand off. There are also lots of schools with EAL pupils who haven't had them in the past and so would love to have someone with experience in this area.