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teaching in the UK again after 9 years teaching abroad

teaching in the UK again after 9 years teaching abroad

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    Dear John, I have been teaching Foundation Stage age and Primary abroad for the past 9 years and we are now planning to move back to the UK. I am concerned because I know what is thought in the UK about teachers who have been teaching in International schools. I have been lucky enough to keep myself up to date with every development in the Foundation Stage and I have had training to follow all new strategies and documents introduced in the UK over the years. How do I sell myself so schools find my application attractive? I hope you can help. Kind regards, Alicia...
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    Hi there!! If you have just completed your PGCE, don't think twice and get a teaching job abroad before you settle down in the UK. There are lots of opportunities in this part of the world and you'll get to see "the big wide world", so GO FOR IT. However, don't stay away too long. Look at me, even though I have kept myself up to date with new standards and strategies in the UK I really don't know if I will be able to get a job where I would like to and this is why I am asking for advice. I know what I can offer but I don't know how schools in the UK feel about people like me and that truly worries me. I will start applying for jobs soon but before then I am trying to put together AN OUTSTANDING application letter which will make schools feel at least curious about me as a teacher and professionally. Good luck!!Start applying now it's the best time of year.... Alicia...
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    There are pages on the job seeking part of this web site http://www.tes.co.uk/topSection.aspx?navCode=247 that provide basic advice. The TES Career Advice service offers both a CV review service and puts on seminars for job seekers; both at a range of prices http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6039171

    Not everyone in the UK is anti teachers who have worked overseas, especially in schools that follow the National Curriculum. If you start out with that view in mind it may colour what you write about yourself, and that would not be helpful. The main difficulty often comes with arranging interviews. Also, consider posts with some responsibility attached where competition may be less than basic classroom roles where you are competing with NQTs.

    John Howson



    [edited by: TES_Bev at 10:47 (GMT 0) on 2-5-2012]
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    Thanks ever so much John! I do think my experience abroad can be useful back in the UK and I am determined so I am going to start applying for jobs. Thanks ever so much!! Alicia
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    I am sure your experience will be very useful, and that some heads will welcome it.

    John Howson

     

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    I have had a look at some jobs back in the UK and WOW I would truly love the challenge some of them would mean to me. I do think I need my application to include something which is going to make "the reader" jump out of his/her chair and feel curious about me. Now, how I do that is what I must work out... Any advice? I feel I need a little advice, perhaps someone who could have a look at my CV...Did I mention the fact that I was born in Spain but partly trained in the UK and NO I DON'T SOUND SPANISH WHEN I SPEAK OR WRITE... Sorry but I know there is often a preconception about Spanish people being able to communicate in English properly and I have had to argue my point (politely) in the past so many times I am truly worried about not being considered because of these assumptions.... I am totally bilingual, in fact these days I speak English more than Spanish and with regards to my understanding of education...well, i have only ever followed the Foundation Stage Curriculum, the National Curriculum for England and Wales and right now I am working on the implementation of a Language, Communication and Reading programme following the guidelines of the Letters and Sounds document and the application of the Literacy Strategy in a school where the majority of the pupils are non native English speakers.....Sorry, I get so carried away...This is truly my passion and I would just love to be able to continue in this path in the UK.....bla, bla, bla....Any advice on this? Thanks ever so much!!! Alicia...
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    aliciablanco
    I have had a look at some jobs back in the UK and WOW I would truly love the challenge some of them would mean to me. I do think I need my application to include something which is going to make "the reader" jump out of his/her chair and feel curious about me. Now, how I do that is what I must work out... Any advice? I feel I need a little advice, perhaps someone who could have a look at my CV...Did I mention the fact that I was born in Spain but partly trained in the UK and NO I DON'T SOUND SPANISH WHEN I SPEAK OR WRITE... Sorry but I know there is often a preconception about Spanish people being able to communicate in English properly and I have had to argue my point (politely) in the past so many times I am truly worried about not being considered because of these assumptions.... I am totally bilingual, in fact these days I speak English more than Spanish and with regards to my understanding of education...well, i have only ever followed the Foundation Stage Curriculum, the National Curriculum for England and Wales and right now I am working on the implementation of a Language, Communication and Reading programme following the guidelines of the Letters and Sounds document and the application of the Literacy Strategy in a school where the majority of the pupils are non native English speakers.....Sorry, I get so carried away...This is truly my passion and I would just love to be able to continue in this path in the UK.....bla, bla, bla....Any advice on this? Thanks ever so much!!! Alicia...

    Unless you are comfortable teaching phonics, you will not enjoy teaching in publically funded schools in England. Wales and Scotland may be another matter. As to CV review, the TES Career Advice Service offers such a service as do others. Start here http://www.tes.co.uk/topSection.aspx?navCode=247 by reading the various articles available free and then consider whether you want to pay for more detailed advice? If anyone reading your application could not distinguish it from one submitted by a native speaker, then I would hope it would not be a barrier, especially if you already have QTS and have taught in the K before going to Spain. Ensuring you can attend interviews may be more of a problem, but with cheap flights even that may be less of an issue these days.

    John Howson



    [edited by: TES_Bev at 10:45 (GMT 0) on 2-5-2012]
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    Dear John, Thanks ever so much for your message, I truly appreciate it. Let me tell you a little bit about myself so you can have more of an idea and hopefully you can give me more accurate advice. I completed a PGCE/Cert Ed in FE in Wales about 12 years ago, having completed a HND (or equivalent as I did this in Spain many years back). I then taught in a Further Education College for a few years (NNEB courses, Btec, ESOL, Spanish GCSE and A Level...)until I moved to Spain in 2003. Since then I have been teaching Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 at an International School in Spain first and now at a school in the UAE. I am up to date with all the National Curriculum for England and Wales developments (National Strategies, Letters and Sounds document and its implementation in the Foundation Stage....) I worked as a Primary Head for 5 years in Spain and I am now leading a department for Language, Communication and Reading at an International school in the UAE. I love what I am doing and I really want to carry on working with young children in the UK. I have almost completed my QTLS as I am a member of IFL and I am aware of all the changes in the FE system. I want to go back to the UK with my husband (British) and daughter which is where we feel we belong. I know more about the National Curriculum for England and Wales and all its documents than any other system in the world. I believe in it and know I can follow it (whether I was born in the UK or not). Now that you know a little bit more about me. How easy or difficult do you think it would be for me to find a job as a Foundation Stage teacher in the UK? I think I will have my CV checked out but I do need to know which direction to take first though. I hope you can help. Many thanks once again!! Alicia
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    Until you try, it is difficult to assess your changes, but there should be more posts at that end of the primary school than say for KS2. However, you don't have QTS, so until the government allows those with FE training to teach in schools you probably won't find a job in the public sector. You might well be hired by a private school. However, what about returning to FE to teach those working in EY settings other than teachers?

    John Howson

     

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    Dear John, Your advice has truly made me think... Going back to the FE sector has crossed my mind several times but...where do I start? I have to start looking to see what's available and then just TRY as you said. I believe the government will announce the final decision in April this year and if the proposal is approved FE teachers with QTLS will be allowed to teach in schools. Am I right about this?I'll keep my fingers crossed and continue searching and hopefully very soon applying for jobs. I truly appreciate your advice and I will probably keep in touch as I feel I will need a lot more... Alicia...
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    I haven't heard about the April deadline, but it makes sense, as that is when the GTCE is closed down so making the change at the same time would be sensible. The lack of news about all these changes affecting teachers is slightly worrying.

    John Howson

     

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    Dear John, Let me find the link I have through the Ifl Newsletters I get as a member and I can forward it to you. I am pretty sure Ifl is hoping for these changes to be approved in April. Thanks for your advice... I'll be needing some more so I'll keep in touch... Alicia...
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    Hi John, I have been so busy I have not had time to e-mail you since received the news from Ifl. Have a look at this, http://www.ifl.ac.uk/policy-and-campaigns/current-policy-priorities/qtls-and-qts. You might have heard about it already, I just thought it was wonderful news. My question would be, "where do I take it from here then?" Let me know what you think. Thanks! Alicia
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    The government were very late about confirming the change, but anyone who meets the IfL criteria will have QTS and can teaching anything to anyone in a school. Those who don't meet the criteria will still be restricted (if that's the right word) to teaching in private schools, academies and free schools.

    John Howson

     

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    Hi John, I have now started applying for jobs and I wanted some advice from you. I have seen some jobs I would like to apply for a I feel I would be right for them but I would really appreciate some advice from someone like you before I go ahead. Is there any way I can email you some attachments (to an e-mail address) so you can advice me whether you think it's worth me applying or perhaps I should go for a different type of job? I am a little concerned about some of them as some schools may feel me being away from the UK would mean having fallen behind (although I am up to date with all the developments for sure). Do let me know if it's ok to e-mail you some attachments. This is my e-mail address, perhaps you can e-mail me directly and let me know. Kind regards, Alicia
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    Dear John, Sorry, this is my e-mail address aliandphill@hotmail.com I hope you can help me out. Thank you! Alicia
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    We only offer open advice in the career clinic, but the TES Career Advice service offers personal help for a fee and I have forwarded your email to them.

    John Howson

     

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