The International Schools Review Forum

Oh pox - no email for me! No surprise though as I don't have IB experience and as you know I wasn't holding my breath!!

revivaldrum - everything I've read on hong kong forums about salaries etc suggests that supporting a whole family on one salary would be really difficult, if not impossible. have you asked on a hong kong expat forum, one for people actually living there?? they'd know for sure.

So, I had my interview today (it went well, I think!) and gathered the following intelligence, which I thought would be interesting for everyone:

- They had over 1800 applications, that they tried to sort in one week.
- They are interviewing 180 people (90 in London, face to face or via video conference; 90 in HK and Singapore). So that's about 1/10.
- I think there are about 50 positions, roughly. That's about 3 to 4 interviewed candidates per position. But also 30-40 applicants for each position!!! That's a tough market!

Hi, I also have an interview with the ESF in February, and also have two children, and my wife is not a teacher. What is the cost of living like in Hong Kong? Would the salaries and benefits of the ESF enable us to live comfortably. I would appreciate any information from ESF teachers with children and a non-teaching wife.

Also, how do you know what school the interview is for? My reply did not state this.

Hi, I looked into that in detail when I was considereing HK and the ESF, and I really think you can live well with a family if you have a reasonable lifestyle. For example, there are fancy expat-style flats in swanky developments with swimming pools for HK$35.000 a month, which is more than your monthly salary (or about equivalent to it). But you can also find nice typical village houses in some areas for as little as HK$7500 a month (which is less than the $8050 ESF gives you). If you want a fancy lifestyle with a chauffeur and a maid, don't go to HK. If you're ready to live like at home but in an amazing, exciting place with a great school and great kids to teach, then go for it.
Also, HK is one of the only places where (I think) your wife is entitled to work on her dependent visa. Can't she do a few hours to make things a bit easier financially? They are forever looking for native English speakers for ESL lessons etc.

I don't know about your salary being sufficient, but I do know that many spouses in your situation, really rake in a LOT of money tutoring English on the side, either independently, or for private English language schools in the area. It should be no problem for you and your wife to make a nice income...and remember, it's tax free and you'll get free housing I think. That's a win, win, situation.

can anybody comment on Peak School (is an ESF school)?
thanks