Lets say from an academic/ environment/ facilities/ quality of staff perspective. For example if you were a parent you'd be thrilled with all the great options in the city.

Which city in the world do you think has the greatest concentration of top schools? Please explain your answer....

Skype interviews can be great. The only difficulty I have found can be avoiding cutting one another off. I've also had a couple where the school has not put on their camera in an attempt to improve the quality of the call. This does make it hard to read the interviewer though.
Most heads should be rather aware of the difficulties associated with Skype and there should be no problem whatsoever.
Will the school your interviewing with be at the fair?

I know John McBryde, the former director of WAB is the CEO there. He is often credited with creating the well respected culture at the Western Academy of Beijing. I'm not to sure of his involvement in the school but his connection bodes well.

The schools has a nice reputation. It is in the downtown core. I believe that it is only an early yaers center that generally preps for NIST. I've heard the pay is nice and staff are treated well.
Mind you this is all rumour, as I don't actually know anyone in particular who works there. I've just heard it from various teachers.

I was at the presentation and never heard anything about not wanting to hire people with dependents. In fact I have a friend who has dependents and was offered a job there but opted for a different more established school. The school makes no bones about the first few years requiring some heavy lifting.

They mentioned in their presentation that the school will open in phase (just as North London Collegiate has). They plan to only have 400 students the first year, hence to need for fewer teachers in the first year. They suggested they could require more if more students register but they would be higher later in the season.

They also plan to hire educators as both dorm parents and classroom teachers. Overall I was very impressed with their package, presentation and admin team.

Your top six are all European schools is that because of the schools themselves (campuses, facilities, work conditions) or because of living in hose cities?

Do any of your rankings take into account saving potential?

Psyguy, I'm curious. What schools do you love?

My impression of the school in general is quite good. I believe it is a very fast rising school in Beijing. It is now about seven years old and has undergone the majority of it growing pains. The ES head Julie Lawton has been there, I believe, since the school opened. She is a very friendly and warm person. I have heard nothing but positives from her staff in regard to her as a leader.



The school is very well equipped and nicely positioned in downtown Beijing. However, it does suffer for space when compared to IS Beijing or WAB. I would kind of equate it to Bangkok, how NIST is downtown has a nice campus but can't really be compared to the space and the general superiority of facility of IS Bangkok.

I have heard there are concerns over a new tax for foreigners in China. It would certainly a good question to ask the recruiter.

I'd be wary of hoping they recognize sixteen years experience as many schools have a cap on incoming teachers salary.

Beijing is gray, polluted and cold in winter/ hot in the summer. Its cultural, historical and modern. Travel outside of China, such as international flights can be expensive. However, China has a bountiful list of travel opportunities within its borders.

I has great success at the BKK Search fair. I'm a male in elementary though so perhaps that helps.
I had a glut of very high offers from some of the top schools in Asia (6 in all) and had strong interest from schools in Europe. I was rather convinced that I might have a tough go (I have a trailing partner) but in the end I was being very actively pursued, I dare say convinced.
In the end it was a very, very hard choice. I'm thrilled though for next year!

Interesting... Who were you conducting the survey for? In your opinion then, are there schools that are Premier/ Elite or is it imagined?

Fair enough it is rather subjective and certainly it would pay great dividends to be put on a list. Perhaps that's the reason to create one... hahah

That's complete BS! They never mentioned they wanted Canadians at Search BKK. And absolutely no one left! I don't know if you have bad information or a grudge but that info is just not true.

Yeah, sure I can see your point. I do think lightstays though makes an excellent suggestion.

Any one out there a real stats geek and would like to pour over some data? I think the results of a real dynamic study would provide an interesting debate...

Perhaps, Psyguy it might be something your interested in since you often enjoy posting here?

I'm quite certain Peter Kenny is still there...