I am sorry Psyguy, but I don't understand what you mean. Could you elaborate please, because I am quite interested in this since these inspections are an annual occurrence and the schools themselves appear to value them highly. Thank you.

I am looking at the list of schools inspected by DSIB [KHDA].

How similar are these inspections to an Ofsted? Are they as rigorous? I notice that they receive an annual grade, which is different to Ofsted. Is everything inspected, including teaching and learning?

Would an 'outstanding' grade raise that school's profile according to the tier system so often spoken of on this site?

Thank you.

Thank you.
Very helpful information.

Oh, well that's a relief.
I was asked to do one as part of the application process for a school. They stated that it was 'becoming standard practice.'
I hate cameras, too vain, I guess!

I am beginning to understand that a video CV is increasingly becoming standard practice.
Can I ask for advice on how it should present, e.g. content etc.
Do they want to a kind of spoken letter of application, or something else?
Thank you

Yes, Kak

I totally agree with you.

Information Posted on this site should be truthful, helpful and as positive as possible. If a negative view is required, it should be done constructively as a way of helping others on this Forum.

Well said Kak, I am sure there are lots of people on here who agree with you too.

Part of point of my above posts is to highlight the difficulty of having accurate and up to date information about schools overseas. Those posting reviews on The Review bit of this Website have a serious responsibility in ensuring that their Review are accurate and as unbiased as is possible, because Newbies especially, will take them very seriously indeed.

Although we cannot personally choose who we want to work with, it's always good to study the administration INFRASTRUCTURE as a whole. If they are a big school ( e.g. 2000 + students ), do they have the proper following factors to make sure that things run smoothly :

* A clear chain of command ( no vague " job descriptions " or " roles " - In other words, I would like to know that the Head and the principal clearly have strong, fair leadership and " backroom dealings " are not orchestrated by the secretary or janitor simply due to nepotism )

* High degree of accountability for BOTH the teacher and the administration ( as seen on contracts and the infrastructure )

* Clear departmental roles and divisions of labour : Example, the HR is strictly HR and has nothing to do with influencing the " hiring " process other than processing visa / work permit papers. In other words, principals and Heads have had enough years and insight to hire good, competent teachers without having to be swayed by HR ( who usually fall under the non-academic administration but the proprietorship, if the school is FOR PROFIT

Yes Mbovi - You are so right about this. A Newbie such as myself, really has to do their homework on this particular issue.

Applying for a teaching job overseas is so very different from applying to a school at home which might even be just down the road.

I have just turned an Overseas Post down because I simply couldn't be sure that the school infrastructure was as it ought to be. But it was still a very difficult decision, certainly not made lightly and in my mind there will always remain a lingering 'What if ...'

Mbovi, you are a hero. Thank you.

Indeed, I cannot thank any of you enough, most especially since having spent hours on this Website yesterday, I have discovered that many of the questions I posed have been asked many times before.

I think it is so sweet of you to take the time to respond personally, often at length, rather than referring me to the Search button!

Roll on tomorrow, hey!

At least the sun has shined on the UK this morning.

Thank you Shadowjack and Inman

You really are a couple of stars and I cannot tell how much I appreciate the time you've taken to offer me advice and help. I have spent some time today looking around this website and I came across the Blog bit and there is some very useful specific advice about good and bad schools, benefits etc. And yes, the schools you mention are confirmed on there. It takes time to build up a picture and the 'tier' thing was really confusing, but it makes sense now you have explained it.

Yes, the UK situation is grim and getting grimmer of that there is no doubt. Such a lack of trust and respect for teachers and the workload just keeps going up and up and so much of it is not to do with teaching. But I am sure you have heard all this before!

My current school had an Ofsted Inspection, under the new Framework, at the beginning of the second week of the Autumn Term. We had only had the children back in school for 3 days! It was a nightmare for everyone! No one felt ready! No displays up, no targets in books, no Units of Work started [still doing induction activities], didn't know children individually etc. etc. And of course, all under the new Framework. No one really knew what 'The Agenda' would be. The Head in a complete state of terror since the School had been judged Satisfactory in last inspection and the new Ofsted means you can only get 'Good' or 'Not Satisfactory'. An awful 2 days. Crazy! And the poor children had to go through it too, only 3 days after meeting their new teacher, getting used to new routines and suddenly they find their teacher and TA complete gibbering idiots! Anyway we survived, thank goodness and got our 'Good'. And there you might think was an end to paranoia, at least for this academic year. Everyone can relax and enjoy Teaching and Learning. Oh no, of course not! Head has to keep everyone on their toes. Classroom Obs still happened a month later, as did the ON THE SPOT OBS and the Learning Walks etc. etc. etc. etc!

Oh yes, the UK is not a great place to be a teacher these days. Frozen pay, increased pension contributions for less pension and the very real possibility of Performance Related Pay now on the close horizon. What that will do to morale and recruitment is anyone's guess.

But having said all that, the worst thing about the UK at the moment is the weather!

To just add to the above and clarify.

I am a newcomer to Teaching Overseas, however I am very serious about wanting to work in a reasonably good or very good school. I am an experienced teacher with a very good CV, PD etc. So I don't want to sell myself short on experience or salary and benefits. Also, I am not as young as I would like to be, but probably a good age for an experienced teacher wishing to make the break abroad.

It is fairly easy to work out the schools one should avoid, since their Reviews are numerous and consistently poor [and views on the Forum tend to back up the poor Reviews].

But it is much harder to know what schools are really good. Especially since I am Primary, and sometimes the focus tends to be on Secondary.

Thank you Shadowjack for your views on GEMS, they kind of concur with the research I have done and thus I think it might be an OK place to start a career abroad.

But mention of top tier, 2nd tier etc. is confusing, since I don't really know how these bandings are arrived at, I get the drift, but don't fully appreciate the story so to speak.

Thank you again. All advice is very valuable.

Thank you all.

So what are the top tier schools in ME and SE Asia. How does one identify them, please?

Thank you.

Even 'beats' RISS, HCMC?

I looked at 3 schools currently advertising - School of Research Science, Dubai, Repton, Dubai and St Johns, Thailand - and the reviews on here are awful, really awful.
Even GEMS [a current advertiser] a huge organisation is rated badly.
I initially started applying in Vietnam and was offered 2 interviews [but only decided to interview for 1] and was duly offered the Post [still negotiating salary], but I probably shan't accept it because of things that are written on here and on TES.
Please tell me, is it because these are genuinely poor schools who are late advertisers, possibly having to re-recruit, or is it reflective of international schools generally?
And how do I know these Reviews are genuinely reflecting the true picture?
Is the International Teaching scene in meltdown due to world slump and recession, and I mean to imply more than just a dire world economy? After all, one of the reasons I want to abandon a successful teaching career in the UK is because I am so tired of the way government, Ofsted and SMTs are damaging the daily experience of teaching and learning. However, at least I do know that my salary will be paid and if I were to be treated unfairly or unlawfully, then I know I would be able seek assistance from any number of professional bodies.
Might I be about to condemn myself to untold misery, bullying and uncertain salary if I make the decision to leave my green and not so beloved land?

Thank you.

That is very useful explanation and comparison of two places.

However, in terms of your last point, that is the crux of the problem, knowing which schools to go for and which to avoid.

The Reviews on here can actually be unhelpful as opposed to helpful and enlightening, although I am beginning to discern between the Grumpsters and the Aggressors!

Thanks again for your help.