You need to ask yourself what qualifies as 'experience'? Training via online workshops, which the IBO and others offer, isn't considered by a lot of schools as experience of teaching the programmes.

Completion of an online workshop would give you an advantage over a candidate without any training but usually the way into the IB is via a less desirable school in a less desirable location for a few years. Then you will have IB teaching experience and probably at least one workshop under your belt, preferable NOT online; but more importantly a foot into the door of the IB's magic castle of dreams and opportunities :)

Can't give any info on the school but can tell you that taxes are not refunded after you leave the country. Although most contracts would end in June, with the tax year beginning in January, so there would have to be some reduction made during the last 6 tax months of a contract.

Rates have just been lowered but look to still pay around 20%

Depends. What you will actually be teaching should be based on the IB subject guide, which can be downloaded free from the OCC, or purchased from the IBO shop.

OUP, CUP and Pearson all have titles for most DP subjects and schools may have a selection, why not contact the school and find out the situation.

All my DP year 1 students had to buy the CUP textbook for my course, I have yet to use it with them since the beginning of the academic year last August.

100K IS a lot of money in Thailand, but for a family of four foreigners I think you would find it difficult. If your children do not / can not eat local food your restaurant bills will rocket. As cooking at home is generally considered more expensive than eating out, this may not help. If you do not buy a car, which are hideously expensive, you will be at the mercy of the local taxi drivers who won't be interested in reasonable fares when there are gullible/loaded tourists to be ripped off.

Ultimately it depends on how native you can become. If housing is provided that would save you around 25K, what about insurance, flights home etc. for the whole family?

100K is a single teacher's salary and it's comfortable. Same salary for a family of four is very risky.

The school is not in Pattaya proper, it's just off the motorway that runs between the city and BKK.

Pattaya is a coastal resort town popular with Russian tourists, sex tourists and long term sexpats. It's like no other place I know in Thailand,; Patong beach in Phuket may come close. With a car you would not have to live in Pattaya.

The reason I was interviewing was because the previous teacher had been put in a coma after being attacked (from what I understand was in retribution for a minor traffic incident with another foreigner). I was told this by a staff member at the BKK Regent's school. Apparently the medical cover by the school was insufficient to repatriate the teacher so teachers from both schools pooled money for his medical flight home. A terrible situation for all. The school may suit you, just look carefully where you choose to live.

Each of the three locations are very different. I would expect many residents of BKK would seriously consider a move to a coastal town if they had the opportunity. Life in any metropolis can be hard, especially growing Asian mega cities. Personally, I feel that Phuket and Pattaya, like many resort towns in Thailand, but not all (was in a few southern towns over the recent break that I can vouch for) have sold their Thai soul to become an international tourist destination. When you are in Phuket and especially Pattaya you know you are competing with the tourists for everything, for example in the way taxi drivers treat/charge/fleece you and the prices on restaurant menus etc.

Life in Thailand, for me, can be summed up in one word, 'convenient'. Everything is available, albeit at a price. 100K as a single or 150K as a couple can buy you a comfortable lifestyle. Thailand is having internal problems, again, but it's a country I would recommend to teachers. My school works me hard but there's still a wealth of things to do here and to explore in neighbouring countries.

PHUKET INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY DAY SCHOOL (PIADS)

For a general idea of news that interests expats living on the island, take a look at the Phuket section of the popular Thaivisa dot com website. Lots of money to be made on the island, which seems to be fuelling violence and corruption.

I have friends who still live on the island, one who previously worked at BIS for many years. The weather and traffic are his only complaints about life there!

Not a large pool of IS to choose from in Thailand. School is OK, Pattaya for some people may be a problem. Salary wasn't high.

I interviewed with them last January, they were having problems retaining teachers for the position I was applying for. In the end I took a job in BKK.

ESL teachers in BKK would consider 100K nett a King's ransom, but as the previous replies states, on Phuket, with two dependents it's just 'comfortable'. Your savings potential however would be low to very low, depending on how 'international' a lifestyle you and your family lead.

Phuket has it's problems, only reading today a statistic that one person every three days dies on the roads there, crime, corruption etc. and it rains a lot. Still a very desirable location for Thais and expats. I'd go if I could get into PIADS!

Yes agree about the location. Don't let anyone convince you it's in BKK.

If you live on the south-eastern area of the city and had your own transport then you could commute, otherwise look at living in a factory / no man's land...

Concordian?

From what I hear in my staff room, well paid, lots of PD and few contact hours. Rich Thai (Telecoms) owners, therefore extremely well funded.

Can not give you any info regarding the academics though...

Location is good in my opinion.

Close to a Skytrain station that gets you into town in 25 mins for just over £1. Close to a major highway for trips in minivans to provinces / beaches. IKEA, big shopping malls closeby. Local food market, restaurants etc.

It is out of town and the environment feels more spacious and less hectic than central BKK, but I consider that a plus.

Solid school. Go for it and good luck.

ACS (Independent) Singapore

37 obtained perfect scores of 45

84.6% achieved 40 or more points

This was for Nov 2012 session, published in Jan 2013.

Many more schools offer Diploma. British IS can often teach IGCSE and then the DP rather than the more traditional A-levels.

Here in a Thailand there are only a handful of schools that teach MYP too.

That's lower than quite a few Thai IS pay, especially the few IB schools (one of which I currently work in).

You also need to factor in the higher cost of living in Laos and the more limited accommodation options in VTE compared to a large Thai city.

I would still recommend anyone to 'experience' Laos, just don't expect to live the high life and save lots.

What's low?

I've worked in VTE before, about 4 years ago. Prices were higher than neighbouring Thailand and many people went to Nong Khai for their weekly grocery shop.

Lovely place, quiet, if that's your thing, but not much to really do. Can get under your skin and you could end up staying longer than you planned!