How to find the best schools
How to find the best schools
Have been teaching for several years in Australia, am now wanting to make the move overseas. How do we find the 'best' schools without going through them all school by school. Particularly interested in Asia and perhaps Middle East. Is there a listing of the schools that have achieved the best ratings by users overall? When I mean 'best' I'm talking about the package, academic standard, reputation, management, resources etc. Thanks for advice!
Who you ask
Depends who you ask, and what region your coming from (the british would argue their schools are superior to say american schools). There isnt any such list and most people wouldn't agree anyway. That said a very large percentage of the "elite" (top tier one schools) happen to also be DOS (US Department of State Assisted Schools). You can follow the link here:
http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c1684.htm
Stick with the "Assisted Schools". Thats the short, and easy answer, though its not the only right answer out there.
http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c1684.htm
Stick with the "Assisted Schools". Thats the short, and easy answer, though its not the only right answer out there.
This is right - it is very subjective.
However, as a rule of thumb, I would focus on schools that are 'not for profit'. Check the websites and see if they are owned by a corporation. The better schools often list the board members - are their parents on it. Better still, are there any consular representatives?
From my experience, the not for profit schools tend to offer a much better experience for teachers and (usually) the better package.
Having said this, if this is your 1st foray into international schools, you may find it hard to break into one of those bigger not for profit schools. Schools like SAS, ISBk etc would be receiving 100s of applications per day at this time of the year.
All the best with your job search.
However, as a rule of thumb, I would focus on schools that are 'not for profit'. Check the websites and see if they are owned by a corporation. The better schools often list the board members - are their parents on it. Better still, are there any consular representatives?
From my experience, the not for profit schools tend to offer a much better experience for teachers and (usually) the better package.
Having said this, if this is your 1st foray into international schools, you may find it hard to break into one of those bigger not for profit schools. Schools like SAS, ISBk etc would be receiving 100s of applications per day at this time of the year.
All the best with your job search.
gdaish, I would say there is no substitute for good research. Read as much on this forum as you can. List out countries in which you'd be willing to live (maybe 10 countries? More? Less?). Try to research every school in those countries. Do forum searches with those countries as search terms...
I'm in the Philippines. Here, I'd say Brent Manila, IS Manila, and British School Manila are all great schools. Brent Subic, Brent Baguio, and Cebu International are good entry level schools to go for two or three years to get some international experience.
Ask people. Find people in countries of interest and ask them directly.
It is a process. Get your foot in the door. Get some IB experience. Enjoy the ride. It is a great experience, if you are open to it.
I'm in the Philippines. Here, I'd say Brent Manila, IS Manila, and British School Manila are all great schools. Brent Subic, Brent Baguio, and Cebu International are good entry level schools to go for two or three years to get some international experience.
Ask people. Find people in countries of interest and ask them directly.
It is a process. Get your foot in the door. Get some IB experience. Enjoy the ride. It is a great experience, if you are open to it.