Moving into the International School Sector

Since moving back to the UK from Japan, life has changed a lot.

I'm currently on my 5th year of full time teaching and it is now time to move on.

It is now the end of January 2020 and since moving back in August 2014 I have:

• Completed my PGCE
• Completed my NQT year
• Completed a masters in education
• Completed the training to qualify as a SENCO (master's level qualification)
• Begun a course qualifying me as an assessor of exam access arrangements (hopefully to be completed this summer)
• Taught full-time for 5 years
• Worked part-time as an examiner for GCSE English language
• Had 2 children (now 5 months and 3 years old)

I am properly exhausted from the last five and a half years!

But it is time to move on to teach abroad. I won't say to much about the process and difficulties involved in applying for a position at an international school, but, it is, perhaps not as easy to secure the position you really want. There is a lot of competition from teacher from all corners of the globe for the best schools with competitive packages. Having a family - wife and two kids - also blocks you from applying to a large proportion of schools who simply won't consider someone who wishes to bring their family with them. Personally, I wanted to work at an IB school, and a lot of the IB schools show a huge preference for teachers who have previous experience in teaching the IB - this was a major obstacle for me but, luckily, I was able to find a IB school that would consider me and did offer me the position I am about to step into. But, I will be honest, there was a point where I felt I wasn't going to be able to secure a job at a school that I really wanted to work at. Luckily things turned around for me and everything fell into place. I think that all the extra study I have done, and the international experience of living in Japan for 10 years, made me a more appealing candidate for them.

So, I am really happy with the school I'm going to work at. I don't feel it right to publish all the details of the package here, but I (and my wife!) are extremely happy with the school's package and I am so excited, not just to be moving to China, but to work at the school I'm going to and have a chance to teach the IB. My oldest son is going to love the school - he'll be joining their kindergarten.

Onwards with the tidying up, throwing away etc. We have 6 months to get ready!

My five and a half years in the UK have been a great time for personal and professional development. It has been hard, but well worth it. But it's now time for a new chapter.

UPDATE: Covid-19 locked down China and the job was cancelled. But I found another job in an IB World School in Dubai instead. All change!