Working abroad

If you are thinking about applying to work abroad, it is wise to have your contract vetted by ATL and to establish what duties are expected of you. Remember to ask about career prospects, holidays and home leave.

You also need to think about whether the job is 'inductable' or whether you should pass your induction year in the UK and then go abroad to work. 

 

Money

 

You should obtain details of your salary - exactly how much you will be paid, whether any of it will be remitted to the UK; whether you will be allowed to send money home and how much tax you will pay, both at home and abroad. You should also find out about the official exchange rate, the local cost of living, whether you will be able to use credit cards in the country and whether your partner will be permitted to work. Consider issues such as whether to let your house and who will handle your financial affairs, both in the UK and while you are abroad. 

 

Health

 

Apart from any appropriate inoculations, you may also need vaccination certificates, X-rays and HIV tests. Remember to ask who should pay for them. You should also enquire about the availability of private medicine, NHS or health insurance cover, and about precautions to take with regard to local water supplies and endemic diseases.

 

Travel 

 

It is important to establish who pays for your travel, home visits and work permits (you may need a permit to re-enter the country). Remember to check on any baggage allowances, storage costs, dock or airport fees, agents’ fees, insurance, and any import or export restrictions. 

 

Ask how long your belongings will take to arrive, and consult professional removals experts, if necessary. 

 

You may need an international driving licence and insurance while you are away, and remember to enquire about the availability and cost of local transport. 

 

Local conditions

 

If accommodation is provided for you, ask about cost, furnishings and other facilities, and take note of the local voltage. You may also need to consider the cost and availability of children’s schooling. 

 

Other important matters include climate, local laws and customs, especially regarding drugs or alcohol, the political situation and its effect on daily life, and how much information is available in English. If possible, contact an expatriate for information.

 

Professional support

 

If you take up a teaching post in a school or college outside the UK and retain membership of ATL you will be covered by ATL’s insurance scheme, subject to certain conditions. If you teach in the Channel Islands or British Forces schools in Germany, you will be entitled to the full range of ATL’s professional and legal services. 

 

ATL will always consider requests for staff to give legal assistance in connection with your employment, but if you plan to be abroad (except in Germany) for more than two years, it might be better to join a local teachers’ organisation. 

 

Other sources of information include your local authority, the agency through which you found work (such as the Ministry of Defence, British Council etc) and the Department of Social Security. The embassy and Ministry of Education in your destination country may also be able to help, and it is always worth contacting an expatriate, past or present, for an insider’s view. 

 

Voluntary work overseas

 

If you would like to volunteer as a teacher in the developing world, you may find that your school will keep your job open for you while you are away. Talk to your headteacher about the possibility of taking a period of unpaid leave. Make sure you emphasise the benefit to your school (specific skills you will develop, opportunities for joint working, etc).

 

If you do have to resign from your job, don’t forget that your experience will stand you in good stead when it comes to applying for others when you return.

 

To find out more about working abroad as a volunteer, go to the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) website. VSO place many teachers around the world. They usually require teachers with a least two years’ experience and ask them to commit to a job for a period of 24 months.

 

For information on teacher exchanges, try the British Council website.