I have this debate regularly with a friend of mine...

Spain is not in a position to negotiate Scotland's entry - if France and Germany see some benefit to the EU in Scotland joining, then it will happen. Even Spain acknowledges this now - https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... to-join-eu

Lastname_Z wrote:
> I'm not sure having an EU passport is really that much of a benefit
> (speaking as an EU passport holder and getting my EU passport before I did
> my research). There are a lot of top schools in the EU countries that only
> accept non-EU passport holders (Best example is the American School of
> Warsaw).

Which is technically illegal under EU employment law - you cannot give preference to non-EU citizens over EU ones for employment.

That moment when you think "S**t, what have I done?..." happens to everyone moving abroad. You're leaving a safe, stable, familiar life to go and live in a country you don't really know for at least two years - why wouldn't you think that? Even now, as i come to the end of my time in one country and prepare to move to another, the thought still crosses my mind (even though I don't really like where I am too much!)

@psyguy - under DPA it's up to the data holder to prove something doesn't exist rather than the person requesting it to prove that it does. The Information Commissioner in the UK actually has pretty wide ranging powers and can force companies to open up their data through inspections (you think OFSTED are bad, this lot are worse!)

Legally though, if there is a list, then that's data (unless it's all in someone's head.)

Under the DPA, organisations can only keep data for as long as is necessary. So if someone is rejected, then the data (by law) must be deleted immediately. If you're in archived or active, then technically your data is still required so they can maintain it.

So it comes back to the list again - as if you apply a second time it should be a completely fresh application. If that doesn't happen because there's a list (electronic or handwritten) of people who are automatically rejected, then that list is data and should be released on request.

TES - Times Educational Supplement (www.tes.com) - major UK-based educational newspaper / website, which also has a jobs section for international schools. Many (most?) do advertise there as well as using Search, etc.

Teach Anywhere is another one I have used - got both my jobs via them rather than Search.

The thing is, for Search, what business model would they shift to? The one they have is pretty much the same as the one used by recruitment agencies across the world for any job in, say, financial services. Charging candidates more is an option, but (a) it would exclude the UK office, which presumably takes most British teachers, and (b) would put off candidates generally (why should I pay $500 when there's no guarantee of getting a job - at least a school knows it might get a candidate.)

Direct applications are fine, but best practice means that the school still should advertise to make sure it is getting the widest pool of candidates. Personal referrals are fine too, but again that doesn't always work. And I'm not sure whether I'd want to have hundreds of CVs sent to me as a headteacher for jobs which might not (ever) exist - it certainly wouldn't end the candidates' problem of sending off a CV never to be heard of again.

On the QT.....

If you are registered with the UK office of Search, their claim that you can't request copies of your references doesn't stand up legally. Under the UK Data Protection Act, you are entitled to view (as a Data Subject Access Request) copies of any and all information held, used or shared by them on their systems about you. This is enforced by the Information Commissioner. They may charge a maximum of £10 to do this.

They may well block you after this - but since they've done this anyway it's less of a problem. It might not get you far, but you would then have a firm copy of the individual's offending reference - which, depending on the country, might be actionable legally....

I would also suggest looking at some of the work going on in Scotland - at least in theory if not in practice. Curriculum for Excellence was designed to bring in some innovative styles and allow teachers more freedom to teach - unfortunately its success has been stymied by cuts from both the Scottish Government and local government as well as a reduction in teacher numbers.

That said, some of the work on things like formative assessment, children's rights etc are pretty forward thinking.

Second that point about buying the clothes before you go! That worked for my daughter too (Primark was a wonderful bargaining plea...)

It might be worth looking to see what similar clubs are on offer. Sometimes it's difficult to find this out before you get there - my daughter wanted music lessons and it took a year for us to find them, as the school doesn't offer music at all to her age group. I suspect that the excitement might have been because her friends were going though, and maybe this is a chance for her to think about what she wants!

@senator - @psyguy is right. If my daughter had been vehemently opposed at the point where we were about to leave, then I think we would both have withdrawn. Ultimately, it might upset an IS or a headteacher, but my child's happiness is always paramount and I'd hope that at least I'd have been understood.

Saving face is important. You won't get a direct apology for what happened, ever, because that would admit that they have done something wrong. However, it is worth pointing out that the relationship between you and the three students has irretrievably broken down, and something needs to be done about that.

I'd strongly push for them being moved out of your class and that you do not teach them or have any supervision of them for the remainder of your time at the school. They can be moved quietly; other students will know why it happened, but will probably be too embarrassed to say to their parents, while the parents can say whatever they like about the school / you / etc.

If you were staying, I'd argue that you should push for the school to suggest that it might be best for the defiant pupil to move school. The school can give him a decent reference to make sure he goes, and the parent can then again say whatever they like - it gets the kid out of your (and the school's) hair.

All very subtle and low-key, but the message still comes across.

And then when you've gone, post a review on ISR.....

We moved abroad with out (then) 13 year old daughter, to a country we'd only visited once on holiday and even then to a different city. Some thoughts from that experience...

1. Tell them as soon as possible. Preferably the minute you make the decision to move, even before you know where you're going. They need time to process what is happening, what will be expected, how it will affect them.

2. Involve them as far as possible in all decisions. If they decide, for whatever reason, they really don't want to move to a certain country, then don't go there. My daughter took very strongly against UAE, for some reason, and when I did apply for a couple of jobs there she really took it badly (needless to say that's not where we ended up!) Lesson learnt...

3. Once you have an offer from a school, sit down with the kids and go through the school website and information with them. You'll have done this already yourself as part of the vetting for the school, but let them see what they are getting into and that they are happy with it.

4. Get them set up with Facebook, FaceTime, etc. FB has age limits technically but if you're sensible with it then it can be really useful for keeping in touch with grannies, friends, etc. My daughter still talks to many of her friends back home, and is currently arranging what to do with them when she's back in the summer.

5. Whatever the kids say, don't expect them to be happy all the time about the move. They will see you're excited, and looking forward to it, and might not want to burst that bubble by talking to you about their worries about the move. We didn't spot this until about 3 or 4 months into our time here, and that was probably the most difficult period since our move. Get them to talk to you, their school guidance teacher / year head / class teacher before they go, and when they get there let them know about the support network available to them.

6. Prepare for homesickness. They will miss people, including some they didn't expect. Make sure that grandparents, cousins, aunties are all on side at least to the kids about the move, as if they're not it will make things worse.

7. Bring photos, favourite books / toys, clothes, anything which will give them some familiarity from home. Depending on the country you are going to, this could include pets. As others said, try to find out which of their favourite foods are not available in the country you are going to, and bring some with you to ration.

Our first move was difficult, but not impossible. We're about to take on our second, and this time we're more prepared and ready for it.

I don't know about Search shrinking, but I've had the feeling there are less jobs around this year. Both my wife & I are registered, but neither of us have had any bites through Search (we both got jobs though!) Admittedly I'm humanities, and we were excluding most of the Middle East, but even just observing them there doesn't seem to be much.

You don't say which country - that will make a difference. Can you live comfortably on one salary? Also, if your wife is there with boarding responsibilities, then she'll have a work visa for that country (presumably) and will be able then, if a teacher, to do some cover / supply work as needed.

If it was me, I'd double check about the likelihood of cover work and something coming up either this year or next, and take it. As we say in Scotland, if it's for ye, it'll no' go by ye!

@carolina - that's true. It's required for almost every job in Scotland now and I think more and more in England too. I don't really like it - especially in person as you don't always know the class - but I can see why from a recruiter's perspective it makes sense.