The International Schools Review Forum

Hello all,

I am quite new to the forum and would like to kindly request some advice regarding my career situation. I am currently lecturing abroad and although the job is fine my current specialism means that my job opportunities are mostly limited to the tropics. Long-term I’d like to be closer to home (UK/EU). I’m in my late 30s. How realistic would it be for me after teacher training (pgce) and 2yrs experience to get a job teaching Geography in Europe? I have always found Eastern Europe fascinating in particular. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

Cheers

Schools in London are really struggling to recruit Geography teachers. If London is an option, you would be able to find a job in a heart beat. But teaching in London is not for everyone, especially after working abroad with motivated and pleasant children.

Ok thank you, that is good to know. Would I necessarily still have to do the pgce if there is such demand? Also what about opportunities in eastern Europe/Scandinavia? Is it a long shot? Thank you.

But why Geography? Do you have a degree in this field?

In a UK state school you would have to do a PGCE yes. In fact even in private schools I can't imagine they would take unqualified teachers.

Yes you would need a PGCE, and at an upper tier IS municipal DS full QTS.

WE is very competitive there are a lot of ITs who want to relocate there. A qualification and 2 years experience is the bar too entry into IE. Many ITs have a professional credential, advance degree and half a decade post certification experience before they are competitive for WE.

Ok thanks for the responses. Btw I have a degree and doctorate in Geography, so it's most likely I would teach this subject (or env studies). So it does look like a long shot... but what about east Europe.. Poland, Czech, Slovakia? Russia? Thank you.

@geoguy

EE in some ways is more competitive. There are far fewer ISs that use an English based curriculum and medium of instruction. Your competing with fewer ITs but over a handful of ISs. Many of those locations (Prague, etc) while not as popular with ITs get many applications for the few vacancies they have. ITs tend to stay for extended periods of time and when they do have vacancies your competing ina candidate pool with a couple hundred applicants.