The IB training workshops I've been on have both been Fri/Sat/Sun.

I've also completed an online training workshop with IB which, although not my first choice was flexible as to when you complete the activities.

[quote="fine dude"]I have a similar question. Why so many vacancies at Bangkok Patana School? It is considered to be one of the prestigious IB schools in south-east asia.[/quote]

It is, and it still advertises many vacancies each year.

I have friends there and I know the school does work them hard, but yes I agree, you would think teachers would want to stay there once 'in'...

Yes you could save a little, although the amount will vary depending on how much you want to travel around whilst there and how 'western' is your lifestyle.

The food, bars and shopping are numerous in Bangkok, money goes easily if you are not careful.

Many ESL teachers in Bangkok consider 40,000 baht to be the minimum for a westerner.

Bills are cheap, although a/c will push up the electricity bills. Water is very cheap $3-4 a month.

I believe the average national salary for Thais is still less than 15,000 baht a month, just to give you some perspective.

Another way to look at it is from this scale: //www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17543356

Yes they were happy with the school but were not going to stick around after their initial contract expired, their subject is one of those currently being advertised so maybe they are staying true to their word.

If you are looking for a tier-two school in Bangkok then there seems no reason to not consider Regents. The package is low but Thailand still has a relatively low cost of living.

How are things going to change? Who knows? But IB have finally got the message that there needs to be changes to the programme so I hope it's for the better.

Yes, in my school too MYP does not prepare students for the rigours of DP but I wouldn't pass on a job for it...

The Bangkok school is considered the more desirable school by most, but I'm not sure if that is due to the recent Nord Anglia take over or just because Pattaya isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Package info as of Jan 2012:

Now to the OVERSEAS HIRE package. If you are appointed, then you will initially be offered a two-year contract that could be renewed annually thereafter. This includes return economy air fare at the start and end of the initial two years (an annual return thereafter), free accommodation on-campus OR an accommodation allowance, salary (paid in Thai baht) linked to qualifications and experience, a variable devaluation allowance linked to the baht/pound exchange rate amounting to about an extra 15 to 20% for British and Australian nationals, work visas provided and a resettlement allowance of up to 15,000 baht per teacher upon production of receipts and finally medical insurance (not including dental). In addition, a free flight for a teacher’s spouse and for one child will be provided. We welcome families and therefore provide free education for all children in Bangkok and for two children under 8 years of age who live on-campus in Pattaya; if children are over 8 then they will still receive free education provided they participate fully in the Boarding and extra-curricular programmes. A married teaching couple both employed by the school and living in Bangkok or living on-campus in Pattaya would therefore receive free education and flights for two children. The Bangkok accommodation allowance varies between 17,000 per month for a single teacher to 35,000 for a married teaching couple with 2 children; it is slightly less for Pattaya. At this stage, I cannot provide you with the salary scale but I can indicate that a qualified teacher with a degree, PGCE and 8 years experience would receive a basic monthly salary of just over 79,000 baht with the devaluation allowance taking the total to over 95,000 baht per month. Thai tax is payable and this varies according to individual circumstances but a rough figure would be between 14% and 20% of your salary. So, to finalise my example, the basic monthly salary inclusive of devaluation would be about 95,000 baht LESS Thai tax of about 15,000 leaving us with a net salary of 80,000 baht to which one would add the housing allowance. A responsibility allowance might also be applied.

I spoke with a BKK teacher a few months ago at a IB regional workshop, was told the owner of the BKK school is very hands on and one of the Pattaya teachers had had to leave that year after being put in a coma (attacked by a Pattaya expat over a driving dispute). Sounded rather scary.

Are you male or female?

If the latter, I'd shave just to be on the safe side. Some schools are less progressive...

Where did you find details of the package?

I was contacted by the school in the week and told I have been longlisted, would like to know a little before I consider further.

Luang Pabang is the highlight for most people. If you are in the south you will probably end up in 4000 Islands.

Just try and get off the beaten track to see a different way of life, albeit one that is becoming more and more influenced by China.

After living and working in Laos and visiting all of the provinces on two extensive motorbike trips, I found Laos to be a country you kick back and 'feel' rather than 'see/do'.

Enjoy and sok dii der!

A new headmaster joined last year and has caused a few waves. They 'lost' many (25+) teachers through a random drug test in the spring.

The school does publish pay scales, but as others have said Phuket is probably the most expensive province in Thailand.

Still a great place to live if you don't mind the rain.

There are apartments out in Bangplee but most cater for Thais so tend to be single room style. If you search you could something larger or there is always the possiblity of renting a house.

You can travel into central Bangkok via the Bangna skytrain station, which would involve a 20km trip down the Bangna-Trad highway.

If you work out there you would probably want to stay local. Taxis are cheap and you could get around on a motorbike, without the need for a car.

I know nothing about the school but would be weary of anything 'Thai-Chinese' in Thailand. The school website should be ringing alarm bells already...

HIV???

Illegal drugs are one thing but what's the connection with HIV? Is it against the law to have HIV in Indonesia or not declare a postive status etc.?

Yes, the new headmaster's ฿5 million, Apple computer initiative and lack of student numbers to cover the cost has absolutely nothing to do with it!

Spoke with a friend at the weekend that said the BIS in Phuket got hit with this last month - the details of how it was handled were almost farcical.

Bottom line from him - 10 teachers are quietly leaving at the end of term, and not being replaced.

As far as I'm aware, subjects in IB's DP have grade boundaries too, which are shown in the biannual Subject Reports. These give a grade (1-7) and a corresponding mark range, e.g Grade 7 = Mark range 88-100.

These do vary from year to year. I take an average of the last three years when grading student's work and for term reports etc. This gives the students a fairly accurate idea of the potential mark achievable for the level of work they are producing.

Predicted grades for university purposes are more 'optimistic' than the predicted grades teachers submit to IB.