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Teacher / Teacher Working Abroad

First things first and in case you didn't know...

Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping young minds. Their responsibilities extend beyond delivering lessons; they act as mentors, motivators, and guardians of student wellbeing. A typical day involves lesson planning, preparation, and delivery, as well as assessing student progress and providing constructive feedback. Beyond the classroom, UK teachers often engage in extracurricular activities, parent-teacher conferences, and professional development. A strong emphasis is placed on creating inclusive and supportive learning environments, where every student is valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.

 

Teaching abroad offers a truly unique and rewarding experience. Educators venturing overseas often encounter diverse cultures, educational systems, and student demographics. While core teaching principles remain consistent (certainly if you are teaching in an English school abroad), adapting to new environments requires flexibility and cultural sensitivity. Teachers working abroad may face challenges such as language barriers, different teaching methodologies, and varying levels of resources. However, the rewards are great, including personal growth, broadened perspectives, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students from different backgrounds.

Key skills/talents

Core Competencies for Effective Teaching (UK and Overseas)...

  • Strong pedagogical knowledge: Understanding effective teaching methods and curriculum design.

  • Adaptability: Flexibility to adjust teaching styles to diverse learners and cultural contexts.

  • Cultural competence: Understanding and respecting diverse cultures (particularly relevant for overseas roles). Plus a fully open-mind to all types of people and all backgrounds

  • Leadership: Inspiring and guiding students, often in collaboration with colleagues.

  • Strong interpersonal skills: A fundamental interest and keen awareness of people and their behaviour

  • Empathy and Patience: Working with children and parents requires empathy, patience, and understanding. Being able to build rapport and establish trust with a wide range of people is vital.

  • Excellent communication skills: Strong communication skills are vital for interacting with children and their families. This includes both verbal and written communication.

  • Emotional resilience and maturity: Coping with challenges and setbacks in the classroom and the education system in general.

  • Teamwork Skills: Collaborating with families, other teachers, support staff is vital, so being able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team is essential.

  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD): All teachers need an interest in ongoing learning and development to stay up-to-date with advancements in the field.

  • Classroom management: Creating and maintaining a positive learning environment.

  • Organisational skills: Managing administrative tasks and time effectively.

  • Technological proficiency: Using technology to enhance teaching and learning

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​Qualifications required

To teach in a UK school, you typically need:

  • A relevant degree: In the subject you wish to teach or a closely related field.In Leah’s case this was French and Spanish. In Sophie's Case, this was Geography.

  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): This is mandatory for teaching in state-maintained schools in England, although isn’t the case for privately-run schools, as Leah explains in her chat. Links for this are below. Obtaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is mandatory for teaching in state-maintained schools in England, with various routes available for achieving this, such as university-based or school-based training programs.

  • Practical teaching experience: Gained through teacher training programs.

  • DBS check: A criminal record check to ensure suitability for working with children.

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Additional Considerations for Teaching Overseas

While core teaching qualifications are essential, the path to teaching overseas often involves additional considerations:

  • New/Different ‘recognised’ teaching qualifications: Many countries require specific qualifications or certifications. Research the requirements of your target country.

  • Language proficiency: Fluency in the local language may be necessary or most certainly advantageous.

  • Cultural Competence: Developing an understanding of different educational systems, cultures, and student needs - prior to taking a job abroad - is essential for effective teaching abroad.

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Rules and regs

Remember, requirements and regulations can vary between countries. Always verify the latest information from official government sources for your chosen teaching destination.

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To become a school teacher in the UK, you'll need to meet the government-defined Teachers' Standards: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61b73d6c8fa8f50384489c9a/Teachers__Standards_Dec_2021.pdf. 

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Offsted regularly do checks and assessments of ALL educational institutions, judged against set criteria. This BBC link gives a breakdown of what’s involved in this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65013919#:~:text=What%20happens%20during%20an%20Ofsted,but%20only%20in%20exceptional%20circumstances

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Understanding (if you’re UK based) key legal frameworks in the UK educational context is also important:

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Visa and Work Permits for working abroad: Navigating immigration processes to secure the legal right to work as a teacher in your chosen country. Always research and check these requirements of the country before you accept any role. This link, although not teacher specific, gives great info on working abroad: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/working-abroad

 

And of course when you’re working abroad there are still UK rules and regs for the UK you still need to adhere to: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/living-or-working-abroad-or-offshore-detailed-information

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Insurance-wise, if you're employed by a school, either full-time or part-time, and whether the UK or abroad, you typically don't need personal teacher insurance. The school will have its own insurance policy to cover potential incidents. BUT, always triple check this and your own liability protection.

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If you're self-employed as a private tutor or teacher, working from home or at students' homes, teacher insurance is strongly recommended. Whilst not legally required, it provides essential protection against potential claims, such as accidents or professional negligence. Here is just one (UK based) as example: https://www.hiscox.co.uk/business-insurance/tutors-and-private-teachers

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When travelling to teach overseas, it would be prudent to also have health insurance and travel insurance in place. There are many companies that offer both of these, so we won’t even attempt to list them.

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Other countries may well require you to have specific insurances in place to teach in their schools, so as we always say DO YOUR RESEARCH in advance.

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Remuneration framework

In England and Wales, as an NQT you'll start at the lowest point of the main pay scale for classroom teachers, which ranges from £28,000 to £34,502, depending on location.

 

The Scottish equivalent of an NQT is a probationer, who, unlike an NQT, is initially employed on a probationary contract. The current probationer's salary is £27,498. In Northern Ireland, the minimum salary on the main pay scale is £24,137.

 

  • England (excluding London) and Wales - £30,000 to £46,525

  • London - £31,350 to £47,839 (fringes), £34,514 to £51,179 (outer), £36,745 to £56,959 (inner)

  • Scotland - £38,655 to £48,516 (from 1 January 2024)

  • Northern Ireland - £24,137 to £41,094

 

Teachers in UK state schools are paid according to strict rules:

 

  • Generally you start your teaching career at the bottom of the main pay scale we just saw, and inch your way up a step every year. If you perform particularly well you can take two steps per year, so excellent teachers can rocket up through the salary levels.

  • After you finish the main pay scale, you can be assessed and move onto the upper pay scale.

  • There’s an even higher pay scale for teachers who qualify as Leading Practitioners. Their job is to pass on their expertise as well as teaching in classrooms.

  • On top of that, you can get paid extra for the Teaching and Learning Responsibilities (TLR) you take on, and for working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). There’s a scale for these extra payments too, though it’s more flexible.

  • There are also bonuses depending on where you work. Teachers in London are paid the most, then outer London, then the fringes, and then everywhere else in England and Wales. Salaries in Scotland and Northern Ireland are slightly lower.

  • Adding it all up gets to a far more encouraging total. If you’re at the top of the upper pay scale, with the maximum additional pay for SEN and TLR, and working in inner London, you can make over £60,000. Leading Practitioners in Inner London can earn between £50,000-£72,000.

 

Unlike state schools, independent schools (even abroad) are completely free to determine their own pay scales. Their salaries aren’t published publicly, but there’s a preconception that teachers in independent schools earn more than their state school counterparts, and it’s thought to be between £36,000 and £50,000, which as you progress, is not so different from state schools after all.

 

Head teachers at state schools are paid on a set scale. This one goes from £47,000 to £117,210, plus extra for working in London and bonuses for additional duties. Independent school ‘Heads’ earn more than their state counterparts (of course), but rarely by a significant amount.

 

Here is an official UK Govt (state school) pay link for you: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65eae75b5b652445f6f21aa4/School_teachers__pay_and_conditions_document_2023.pdf

 

This is a great link to support you with all things pay related (in the UK): https://neu.org.uk/advice/your-rights-work/pay/pay-progression/teachers-pay-progression

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How to get started

To start your teaching journey, you’ll need to have GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths (and science if you want to teach primary).

 

If you’re considering teaching in a UK state school, you’ll need to have a degree, and a recognised teaching qualification. Initial Teacher Education or Training (ITET) programmes across the UK are broadly similar, providing a combination of academic study and time in school, as you learn about key teaching methods.

 

A minimum requirement, ideally in your chosen teaching subject, is a bachelor's degree, which as we’ve said, for Leah was French and Spanish, and for Sophie, was Geography (e.g. B.Ed.) or a related field. Here’s the UCAS link: https://www.ucas.com/teaching-in-the-uk

 

If you’re considering getting into teaching later, earning a postgraduate qualification like a PGCE or completing a school-based program (School Direct) is essential: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/train-to-be-a-teacher/what-is-a-pgce

Once qualified, all newly qualified teachers (NQTs) in England undergo a statutory induction period. This program provides support and mentorship during the crucial first year of teaching. The appropriate body responsible for your induction will depend on your specific teaching area. You can find a list of regional offices for these bodies here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-teacher-induction-appropriate-bodies/find-an-appropriate-body

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As we’ve already said: ‘Additional Considerations for Teaching Overseas’

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While core teaching qualifications are essential, the path to teaching overseas often involves additional considerations:

  • New/Different ‘recognised’ teaching qualifications: Many countries require specific qualifications or certifications. Research the requirements of your target country.

  • Language proficiency: Fluency in the local language may be necessary or most certainly advantageous.

  • Cultural Competence: Developing an understanding of different educational systems, cultures, and student needs - prior to taking a job abroad - is essential for effective teaching abroad.

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Associations or official bodies to register with

Joining a trade union is not mandatory for teachers in the UK, but it's a common and valuable option. These unions offer a range of benefits and support, including:

  • Collective bargaining: Negotiating with employers on issues like salary, working conditions, and workload.

  • Legal advice and representation: Assistance with workplace concerns or disputes.

  • Professional development opportunities: Access to training and resources for continuous improvement.

  • A sense of community and belonging: Connection and support from fellow educators.

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Some of the largest teaching unions in the UK include:

 

There will be unions unique to every country you work in (abroad) and this will/should generally be advised to you before starting. However, as an example, here are a couple of global unions that you can sign-up to:

https://www.ei-ie.org/en/about/who-we-are

https://www.internationalteachersassociation.com

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Job site links

Below are just some of the places UK teaching jobs are advertised: 

 

And here are links to sites supporting teachers to find roles overseas:

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Progression pathway​

As both Leah and Sophie describe eloquently, there are multiple options for progression. Sophie (whilst in the UK) took the more linear path and got promoted to head of department, and then head of ‘early years’ and so on, whereas Leah has followed a much more fluid path and applied for roles almost ah-hoc.

 

Teaching career progression generally looks like…

 

Subject leader/Head of department: are responsible for the management and coordination of a specific subject area within the school; including curriculum planning, assessment, staff development, and ensuring high standards of teaching and learning within their department. 

 

Head of year/key stage: oversee the pastoral care and academic progress of students within a specific year group or key stage. Their role is to provide support, guidance, and interventions to promote students’ well-being and achievement. 

 

… They also support form-tutors and other teachers who work with various student-related issues. 

 

SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator): play a vital role in supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), coordinating provision, liaising with external agencies, and ensuring that all students have access to appropriate support and resources to reach their full potential. 

 

… They make sure teachers are providing tailored learning plans and adequate support for neurotypical students and those with additional support needs. 

 

Assistant headteacher: works closely with the headteacher and deputy headteacher to assist in various administrative and strategic duties, including staff supervision, student discipline, and school improvement initiatives.

 

Deputy headteacher: supports the headteacher in the overall management and leadership of the school, often overseeing specific areas such as curriculum development, staff management, and student welfare.

 

Headteacher: The headteacher is responsible for overseeing all aspects of school management, including curriculum implementation, staff recruitment and development, student welfare, and community engagement. 

 

… Headteachers also represent the school to external stakeholders, such as parents, governing bodies, and regulatory authorities. They are ultimately accountable for the school's overall performance and outcomes.

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Additional Information/links

Get Into Teaching: A valuable resource for aspiring UK teachers: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

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https://neu.org.uk/advice/member-groups/independent-sector/pay

 

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/teacher-training-and-education/how-much-do-teachers-get-paid

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