Could teaching abroad accelerate your career?
Teaching abroad offers unique career progression and alternative experiences …
In 1997, when I first qualified to teach, the idea of working overseas felt distant. It was expensive to travel internationally, and opportunities were fewer for British teachers. I once ventured to Nigeria to work with the voluntary services overseas (VSO) as a design and technology teacher.
Today, the opportunities for teachers to work overseas have grown …
Teachers can now work further afield
People can now travel further for less, and the number of British International Schools has exploded. With more than 13,000 international schools worldwide, there are countless opportunities to take on leadership roles and grow faster in your career than may be possible if you only taught in the UK. From my own experience working with teachers globally, it’s clear that international teaching accelerates professional growth and allows teachers to gain a diverse range of experiences.
Over the last eight years, working with teachers in 17 countries, I’ve seen first-hand the advantages international teaching offers. From smaller class sizes (although not everywhere) to better work-life balance, the opportunities are vast for those ready to step into a global classroom.
If I had my time again, I would definitely consider teaching abroad earlier in my career. Engaging with overseas opportunities can see you connect with other teachers across the region.
3 reasons to accelerate your professional growth
Teaching in the UK offers many rewarding opportunities, but it can also be challenging.
From my experiences working with teachers globally, it’s clear that international teaching accelerates professional growth, offering a unique chance to gain diverse perspectives while developing new skills. Teachers today can easily find international roles through agencies like eTeach, which register thousands of vacancies every month.
- Start by researching schools that fit your teaching style and values.
- Once in an overseas post, teachers often have more promotional opportunities.
- The expat feel of a school means you collaborate more closely with colleagues.
Start searching your next teaching move with eTeach!
Reflection questions to consider:
- Are you ready to leave the UK and embrace new teaching challenges?
- How could working in an international school accelerate your career progression?
- Have you considered how international experience might boost your CV?
- Would smaller class sizes improve teaching quality and work-life balance?
- Are you prepared for the potential cultural differences in international schools?
- How can you engage in professional development overseas?
- What personal commitments would you need to consider before moving abroad?
- How would gaining international experience help you return to the UK education system?
- What additional qualifications might you need for teaching overseas?
- How would you seek opportunities to share best practices across different countries?
My own work across 17 countries has shown me that international teachers often have access to resources and CPD that build on what’s available back in the UK.
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