Hi there - I also have a small child, teaching couple. We were in China a few years ago - there was a thread recently about the pollution there (pretty much all over China is an issue, except the area near HK which seems to be more regulated) - so although China was amazing, the pollution would definitely discount it as a destination for a family with small kiddies for me.
HK is good, but apartments tiny (small or no accommodation allowance for HK), and a lot of schools ask for fees or % of fees - you would definitely want to avoid that with 2 to pay! We always check this when we are looking at jobs. HK has some nice beaches /walks, although it would almost certainly be apartment living which may be a bit hard with 2 kiddies. Some great schools in HK. Good healthcare. Fab salaries in the good schools. - Check out ESF website.
Singapore looks great, but seems to be very hard to get into
KL - some great schools there - esp. ENC and IPC if you have that background. Lifestyle is great there - lots of cheap getaways, wont make millions but I certainly wouldn't say no, housing for teaching couples is great for a lot of schools - again, look at nexus etc for more info
Dubai / UAE - could be really good for experience, possibly PRD & lifestyle - you will get very affordable childcare there for example, but the desert is not for everyone, it seems also people seem to earn and spend spend spend!
S Korea is a lovely country, they love kids, have skiing in winter and interesting places to travel, although a lot of schools there seem to be very Christian (not a problem if you are Christian!) but has been enough to stop us applying for some - morning staff prayer meetings etc

I would be considering:
* Pollution levels
* Quality of local medical care
* School fees
* apartment sizes / accommodation allowance
* Yearly flights (seems less and less common these days)


Well, that's my 2 cents worth! Lots of jobs out there! We are not looking at Europe, but there are some great jobs there, too...

esn, this is what Search ask people to do - but schools surely must get inundated with applications from the Search data base? A lot of them ask you to also apply through the website (on their own application forms etc)
It is confusing.
I will be covering all bases, but there must be a fine line between being pro-active and being annoying to schools.

This is really interesting, as we have just signed up for Search.
We had already sent in applications to a few schools, who we now understand are also with Search with current vacancies suitable for us.
Do we follow up with an email through Search too? Or treat it completely separately?
I am not sure how Search get their commission... Is it a flat rate for schools in their data base, or do they get commission when they place someone? If so, I wonder if some schools (who have already advertised in TES etc) want to avoide involving Search if we have already independently applied.
Very confusing. From now on though, I'll definitely be mentioning my search profile in applications as it contains all the references etc.

As to the original question, I would send a separate email to the HR / recruitment address mentioning the application through Search. I suspect schools get inundated with Search applications so perhaps they don't bother to check their search email at all?
It also explains more about why so many schools have their own application forms these days... Too easy to check a box and fire it off through Search, it weeds out the people who are serious.

I agree with Senator - we used to have an air purifier on all the time in our apartment and even had to filter the shower water with a special device (never mind drinking water!)- we are not talking biological pollutants here that can be boiled out like a lot of people think - it is chemical (arsenic, lead from the atmosphere) and much harder to deal with.\Lots of schools now boast anti-pollution initiatives on their website (why the need if it is so safe?!) and I totally agree never to listen to any Chinese source about AQI - it never appears to go over 100 and local Chinese (even very educated colleagues who had travelled a bit) refer to it, and believe it is 'haze' - nice!

wow, OK!
That is good to hear. Thanks for the replies.
I know, it seems like every school now has its own application form, and they really do take hours.
I know the argument about it not being much for a job you really want, but we seems to spending all our free time at the minute applying (each application carefully researched etc)
I am sure it will pay off in the end
We are registered for Search BGK spring - too late for January apparently.
We are well qualified etc so I am sure something will come up, it is just awful waiting.
Good idea bout the spreadsheet - thanks for that. I will do that too!

Other half and I currently applying for jobs for 2015. Mainly UK experience state and private, 7 years international in good schools, with some IPC and. Aus, 30 years teaching between us. Primary but have middle school experience & specialties, one in STEM area. One dependent.
We have applied for some Big Guns so far (tanglin, UwC etc) but not a sausage.... Last time we were applying we got interviews for one of these so we know we are near the ball-park.
We have gone on to apply for some other great schools in KL, UAE, a lot of the closing dates not till mid Dec, so we are waiting, waiting....
How many applications is it normal to submit in each recruiting round?
We have a solid work history, decent PD, good references. We have applied to about 10 schools now. Is that usual?
Any advice appreciated.

Thanks for that Fine Dude. Yes, understand it is a Tier 2, but probably a good way for us to get into Singapore... The new campus looks amazing.

We were in Shanghai for 2 years - it is really as bad as you will see on the AQI - for credibility, follow the US Embassy reporting. Apparently my old school now employs 'pollution play' - just as well as I remember one awful day where visibility was about 100m, PM10 over 200 and the kids were all outside at after school activities. Horrible. I loved the city but would never live there again.

The reviews on this site are a bit dire, but I know that they are moving to a new campus (end of this academic year?)
Wondering about the salary, and what the accommodation allowance might be like. I have found a few threads on the forums but they are 2 years old now.
Assuming when they move to the new campus the rentals in that area might be more affordable? I would be applying as a teaching couple, one child.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Yes, still waiting here, too.... Sigh! Applied for both big schools which recently advertised- primary teaching, along with husband (also teacher) and young child. We have a lot of international and UK experience, state and private, and I was really hopeful, especially for the British school... I know that they start their short list interviews on 23 Nov, so it's getting late to be notifying. I wonder if schools are just hiring young singles now, even the *good* not for profit ones. I always thought a teaching couple with one dependent would be pretty competitive. Interesting times.

Hi there
You have been given some great advice above, I don't have much to add except I knew a teaching couple in Beijing where the partner (male) retrained as a personal trainer and set up his own business... He catered to wealthy expat wives! He really enjoyed the experience so if you are open to different opportunities that is a possibility. I also had a partner teacher whose husband did the overseas PGCE, and ended up teaching in a nearby school. This is not an easy option though, there has to be a school who will support this in the city.
I am also in the process of applying to Singapore with my husband (and child), can I ask which school you have interviews for?(maybe pm me?) we have heard nothing and I fear we may have missed out on our favourite school (a British one)... Hoping but...