Depends what you mean by valid. It's valid in the sense that it satisfies the work permit requirements for teachers in some countries (i.e. Thailand) and also enables you to legitmately apply for jobs where the requirement is a BA + PGCE. It won't however lead to QTS, which counts you out for teaching in a UK government school.

I believe Nottingham's course is referred to as the PGCEi, Sunderland retains the standard PGCE title.

I did the Nottingham course a good friend the Sunderland. His was a lot more challenging, and twice the price. Mainly due to the observations/reflections, that the Sunderland course has, which the Nottingham course does not contain.

In the end I'd say that if your intention is ONLY to teach outside of the UK, and you want to keep working overseas whilst studying, they make sense. My friend until recently worked at BIS Phuket and I will be beginning at my second IB world school (in Bangkok) this summer, so although your options may be more limited, you can still use these PGCE's to gain access to IS in desirable locations. Otherwise go to the UK and the traditionally taught PGCE followed by QTS route.

I've accepted a job in BKK starting this summer, so I'm pleased to be returning.

Good luck to all those starting new jobs this summer and even more luck to those still hunting!

Have to agree.

Extremely convenient, good value for money, wonderful lifestyle for expats.

Regarding DP scores.

As far as I'm aware the highest scoring school in SE Asia is Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Singapore. Their recent scores from the last November session are amazing!

I have a friend working there who encouraged me to apply for the currently advertised positions, but when I enquired about expat packages I was told forget it, there aren't any!!!

So results don't equate to good packages...

How many on the list are elephants? How many blue whales?

I was teaching in Bangkok during the political demonstrations a few years ago, when the government slapped a curfew on the city.
It created more traffic during rush hour and forced you to eat earlier to ensure you got back home in time, but apart from that it was no big deal.

In fact I remember finding the errie silence at night quite fascinating.

If you're referring to the English post, it's either being readvertised from a few months ago or a new post opening up.

I agree that I wouldn't want to do a category 1&2 workshop in the same subject.

If it's your first workshop and you're new to IB then cat. 1 would be recommended as there should be some general IB background information as well as subject specific info. After that, and with some IB teaching experience I'd only be interested in cat. 2.

I've attended workshops for three different subjects and only the first was cat. 1.

I met some Wells staff at a workshop in BKK last year. Based on their info the packages were not particularly good, but better than say Heathfield.

Most pay, but if you have limited options would you turn the opportunity down because of this?

Are we talking about Wells? Wouldn't put it past them...

As BKK is so competitive, it may depend on your subject fields, dependents (the extra costs of hiring you) and IB, or lack of, experience; boiling down to the question, are you an attractive candidate for a school?

Laos has only one IS that I know of, and that is IB, Cambodia, a few more.

What curriculum do you have experience teaching in?

I would find the need to leave the country every 2 months because of work permit restrictions a PITA too!

If it is Regents then this salary is BEFORE tax. They have another benefit which is in place to counter devaluation of your home currency against the baht. I was told by the school that for £ sterling this will approximately reimburse you for the tax you pay.

A good friend of mine worked there until last year. She was treated badly. Asked her for details but hasn't got back to me.

From what I remember her main complaint was the management, just plain nasty and unnecessarily so.

More than possible, I would imagine it wouldn't reach that, which would mean money for trips to Hua Hin/Rayong for the weekends occasionally.

If travelling on the BTS (Skytrain) is an option for you then you could live a little further out and get a larger place for your money, e.g. Past On Nut on the Sukhumvit line extension.

Yes, shame, lovely city and the principal seemed very nice. Maybe one day...