International schools are gaining global recognition as more and more of their students, both expat children and, increasingly, local children achieve places at some of the most respected universities around the world. This is part of the reason why international schools are increasing at a significant rate. It has doubled in the past 10 years and has reached up to 5,374 schools at present.
It is believed that the growth of international schools will persist. According to ISC Research, the organisation that analyses developments in the international schools market, the number of international schools is anticipated to rise to 8,000 within five years. That means a constant and ever-increasing demand for teaching staff. “The largest challenge for the whole market is to keep finding good competent teachers,” says Andrew Wigford, Director of Teachers International Consultancy.
Andrew goes on to say, “The reason behind the worldwide respect given to international schools is because of the excellence of teaching provided by such institutions,” says Andrew. ”Continuously finding people who are passionate, experienced, capable, and interested in an overseas teaching job is quite a challenge. Oftentimes, teachers who took teaching positions in an international school would find that they are stretching their stay much longer than they planned because they have begun to enjoy the experience. It’s not simply because of the chance to travel and to experience life in other countries. It is also due to the present-day opportunities for the development of teaching proficiency, professional enhancement, and the experiences achieved from working with teachers and students from different countries.”
Some of the teachers who have had the chance to hold an overseas teaching job, have these to say: Dominic Crompton taught primary in Bogota, Colombia, at the Colegio Anglo Colombiano, and is currently in Redditch, England, as the deputy Headteacher at Skilts special school. He claims, “It is, without doubt, an experience I would recommend to anyone. It is impossible to not bring something back that is of immense value, personally and professionally. Profession-wise, you become highly employable especially if you return with leadership and international connections, and a background of developing curriculum.”
Jeff Burt taught physics to secondary children at Brent International School in the Philippines, then went on to the British International School in Istanbul, Turkey and is now in Sri Lanka at the Overseas School of Colombo. Jeff Burt currently teaches at the Overseas School of Colombo in Sri Lanka, but first taught physics to secondary school children at Brent International School in the Philippines followed by a teaching career at the British International School in Istanbul, Turkey. He has brought along his family. Jeff says, “Looking back, it has been a wonderful experience of being able to teach internationally.” ”I have had experience instructing Australian and American-style curriculum, International GCSE (IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate (IB).You should be ready to adjust to new assessment styles and content including looking at your own method of teaching. The International Baccalaureate programmes significantly differ to the National Curriculum for England and Wales. When you first start them, they can be quite demanding but are really very interesting to teach. Not to mention the fact that they are very good for your professional development.”
