I've had experience with them - both ups and downs. It used to be that you applied to each school individually, but things seem to be changing. However, I would apply to the ones you are interested in directly, otherwise you could well find your application shunted in a direction you don't want it to go. If you want more info about working them, please PM me. In honesty, I wouldn't look to work for them again, they like to change the playing field often regarding contracts/benefits in a way I would consider illegal in the UK.

I'd do individual letters, as I'm assuming you don't both have exactly the same skill set or philosophy. Or that you're both applying for exactly the same job! I think it's enough just to say you are part of a teaching couple, and maybe specify the job your partner has applied for.

Hi,

In our school, we teach it. It was the same in my previous school. In both schools, I'd say the teaching of tech wasn't great, partly due to lack of materials, partly due to lack of inspiring teaching plans/ideas, and partly due to a lack of skill on the part of the teacher. In my current school, using our current schemes of work, I have done quite a few tech projects with my students (age 10 - 11 years), however these have all involved creating "models" of things, for example, a skate park, with no opportunities make a "real" thing.

Hard to give an accurate time amount per week, as we do topic teaching, so it might be that two weeks we teach 5 or 6 hours of tech a week, then none for the rest of that half term.

Does that help?

Hi all,

I'll be moving from Kenya to Singapore in August...any ideas for good shipping companies? I don't have a lot to send, and if I was flying solo I'd take it on the plane as excess baggage, but I have my little girl with me so can't handle more packages! I've looked at previous threads, and see sevenseas mentioned a lot but they don't do Kenya. The onlly quotation I've managed to get so far is from excessbaggage.com - any input?

TIA.

I visited the Primary and interviewed for a job there a few years ago. I liked the school, and really liked the Principal (who has since moved on). As it happened, the lady who's job I was interviewing for changed her mind, and so there was no position. But I think I'd have been happy there. I didn't feel the religion coming through too strongly, but then I was only there for a day. While we're on the subject of Singapore, any updated information on Nexus? Any reviews on the paid site are for before it was taken over.

Thanks, Rob. I've posted there as well already, just wanted to see if anyone here had anything different to add. Buffalofan, what you say is true, but seeing as we're moving there as a family, I don't want to take any risks.

Hi,

My partner,daughter and I are relocating to Singapore in August. My company is dealing with all our passes and visas - employment pass for me, dependents pass for daughter, and long term social visit pass for partner (as we're not married). However, apparently there was a change on 1st March and the MoM now require an embassy letter confirming common-law marriages. Which the British embassy don't do, as the UK doesn't acknowledge common law marriage. We have had an affidavit drawn up in the country we are currently in, which has been publically notarised. Will this be enough or will we have to get married? Any words of wisdom on this subject greatly appreciated!

Thanks Dawson. You've just confirmed my own thoughts. All I can do is pass the info on, and then let her make up her own mind.

Any up to date info on this school? A friend has just had a job offer and I really want to be happy for them but this forum has raised some red flags for me. Would like to see if anyone has anything positive to report before I burst the bubble!

Have PMed you, but never done that before so let me know if you don't get it!

Thanks so much, people, this is really helpful. The area I'm looking at is Bukit Batok - I don't want to be too far from the school I'm working at or else baby will be in bed by the time I get home! Will definitely have a look at craigs list. I thought a car might be impossible...thanks for the confirmation, I just hate struggling with a pushchair on and off the bus! I felt the same as you, seashell, about the MTR placement, so that's good to know too.

I am...but it's not easy! According to the CIE website, they have just got a textbook out that goes with the course. It's my first year doing it so to be honest am pretty much sticking to the scheme of work until I get my head round it. It's soooo core study based, which I'm finding really dull quite frankly.

Am going to jump in and ask some other SIngapore money questions...if no one minds me hijacking the thread! I've been offered the same money as the OP but with another SG$3000 housing allowance. I have a non-teaching partner and a baby. I have visited the country several times, and have friends living there, so am pretty aware of how far that salary will go. However, I'm interested more in start up costs - what's a typical deposit on a condo to rent, is a car worth the expense, and what are the costs involved in getting a maid (live-in)? I want to budget now so we have enough money to get settled when we arrive.

Flyingpig - I think it was the double whammy. The African thing throws up alarm bells for visa processing, and the fact that there's no marriage certificate to tie us together would probably make it doubly hard. We've just done a "statutory declaration" of our relationship so that he can apply for a pass, but he's not entitled to a dependent visa. Hopefully all will be processed successfully!

Hi, I'm not in quite the same position as you, however I do have an...erm....undesirable partner (we're not married, and he's African) in the eyes of many schools. When I put his nationality on me letter of application, I got nothing. I dropped his nationality and quickly racked up 4 interviews. In all 4 interviews I was upfront about his Kenyan passport. I got two rejections, and, feeling demoralised, I emailed the schools to ask for feedback and to see if his nationality was a factor. Both schools were quick to respond, and both denied that his nationality was the reason. One school I believe, the other I don't. However, the other two schools both offered jobs and I'm now sorted for next year. Keep plugging away and I'm sure a job will materialise. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!