The crucial importance of experiential learning
Nicholas Chaddock asks if it isn’t time for all international schools to bring outdoor education in from the cold and give it parity of esteem with ‘academic’ subjects.
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The International Experience
The life of a Third Culture Kid
For Danau Tanu, Alien Citizen a movie by Elizabeth Liang is a must see for international teachers wanting to understand the ‘TCK’ experience.
How the British International School Ukraine reopened for 2022 – 3
In December 2022 Anna Azarova, Communications Lead at the British International School, Ukraine, told how she came to be in the UK. Now, she tells the story of how the school has been able to re-open and even grown this year, with a little help from some friends.
New survey shows British international education is still growing
The British international school market is still strong, new COBIS data show – but wellbeing and academic concerns for pupils of all ages persist post-pandemic. Dan Worth reports.
Influencers in international education
Luke Walduck looks at the guidance shared by some of the latest influencers in international education, or ‘edruptors’, following a recent white paper published by ISC Research.
No choice is minor. No road is accidental
Anna Azarova arrived in the UK two months after the invasion of her home country on February 24th, 2022. In the first of two articles, she reflects on her road in 2022.
Masks and masking in international schools.
Matthew Savage looks at why students in international schools might choose to mask their real self and the consequences for student wellbeing.
Improving schools by listening to students
Tash Hingston with news of an opportunity for the views of international school students to be heard by participating in the ISC Research student voice survey.
Teacher shortages are affecting Australia
With a teaching recruitment crisis looming Down Under, Tim Waley looks at the results of a recent Tes survey that shows how important PD is for candidates.
The importance of staff induction
With teacher retention and wellbeing more important than ever, Cindy Adair looks at what makes a great induction programme for international staff.
Maintaining identity during the Ukrainian diaspora
David Cole, Principal of the British International School Ukraine looks at how an online art project has kept the school community together during the country’s diaspora.
New thinking for an old problem?
Andy Homden and Simon Harris look at ideas for teacher information packs that will help a school stand apart in the age of digital recruitment.
Pinnacles in reflection
International teaching can take you to some amazing places. In 2022, Susan Bennett has been working in Nauru.
July networking event in Wales
Wednesday 13th July, 2022.
Tony Child has news of the return of a much loved summer event in the UK this July – a great networking opportunity for school leaders and other supporters of international schools.
Providing the missing ingredient when starting a new international school
Professor Deborah Eyre argues that a coherent teaching and learning framwork should be in place from day 1 of any new international school. Easier said than done. Here’s her advice.
The needs of children at a time of war
Anna Azarova is the PR manager at the British International School Ukraine. Her account of an epic trip from Ukraine across Europe with her friend’s son in her care received a standing ovation at the 2022 COBIS conference in London. But as she suggests, her story is a sign of needs to come for children in Ukraine.
The Council of British International Schools London conference 2022
The annual COBIS conference took place in London as a hybrid event in May. At a time of such change, it was important to get people together again, as Andy Homden reports.
International schools and the war in Ukraine
Stephen Priest, Principal of the British International School of Tbilisi and Chair of Black Sea Schools Group looks at the heroism of colleagues in Ukraine and how schools have been supporting each other.
Dealing with the impact of global uncertainty on a school community
It seems we are now constantly dealing with the effects of local and global uncertainty. Milena Prodanić Tišma describes how one school in Zagreb helped children to cope after two earthquakes during lockdown.
Staff wellbeing in international schools: the 2022 Tes Survey
A recent global survey by Tes shows international schools are meeting staff wellbeing needs pretty well, although more can always be done. Jon Romer-Lee reports.
Building a school’s reputation as a great place to work
If it is becoming increasingly tough to recruit, it has become doubly important to retain great staff. Simon Dunford looks at building a school’s reputation as a good employer in the age of social media.
Reputation is everything
Following on from the article in the February 2022 issue of ITM by Diane Jacoutot, which highlighted how the recruitment market is now going to be tougher than ever, what should, or what can schools do to give themselves a competitive edge?
Prospective teachers, like parents, are a key audience for what is being said about any school. If you can’t attract the right teachers, a school’s potential to attract new families is massively diminished.
Competition for staff is undoubtedly going to be increasingly tough. As a school, you need to set yourself ahead of the pack: having an historical reputation for excellence in education will not alone cut it if you also have a parallel reputation for not actually being a great place to work.
The undeniable fact is that teachers talk. They talk to each other, both within the school and with teachers from different schools, locally and globally. In the internet age this is so easy with different social and sharing platforms and forums.
The reputation of leaders
Teachers discuss how they are treated and valued by employers; they discuss the effectiveness of the leadership. In all industries, and education is no different, the expertise and behaviour of leadership can be the number 1 reason for workplace dissatisfaction and people leaving organisations.
People don’t leave bad companies. They leave bad leaders
Betsy Allen-Manning
On the internet, the sort of questions that are being asked about schools are:
- “What is it like to work there?”
- “Are staff treated well?”
These types of questions are asked before people even decide to apply for a position or join a school. Schools, in this tougher recruitment market, need to ensure that they also have a great reputation as an employer.
First things first
Even when finances are tight, they must prioritise finding a way to offer the very best recruitment packages possible. Money is always going to be important – most people ultimately work to earn the best living possible. So, to attract the highest level of quality applicants, you must be offering packages that are attractive.
Never move the goal posts. You must also protect the attractive packages that you have offered. A surefire way to erode trust and respect from you as an employer (and ‘encourage’ people to leave) is by making negative changes to your employment packages and conditions (salary/benefit/holiday changes). The news of you doing so will spread like wildfire across the internet and will do a huge amount of damage to your reputation as a trusted, supportive and ethical employer.
If restructuring is necessary – and it sometimes is – do things as transparently as possible. If you surprise your staff, the online backlash might be difficult to contain.
Money isn’t everything
While financial rewards are often a primary motivator in the recruitment challenge, it is not the only thing and there are plenty of other ways that you can make your school an attractive place to join.
Having the right culture is so crucial in everything that you do and, therefore, can achieve. Make sure that your leadership has created a strong culture within the school and staff that actively promotes, nurtures and protects –
- Trust
- Growth
- Safety
- Respect
- Innovation
Having a focus on providing excellent professional development opportunities for your staff can be an excellent way of showing that you value your staff and want to support their growth.
Ensure that the working conditions for your staff is appropriate. This might sound too obvious to mention but, whilst you are paying for your staff to provide you with a service, do everything you can to avoid staff burnout. Provide them with the best tools that you can to enable them to do their job. Actively look after their health and well-being.
Building trust
Some ways you can demonstrate that you value your staff (other than uplifts in pay and benefits):
- Ensure you have the routines, policies and procedures in place to make their working day run smoothly. Does SLT maintain a visible presence around the school? Does the behaviour policy provide sufficiently clear guidelines for managing behavior and incorporate support structures for personnel dealing with regular misbehaviour?
- Ensure staff know you have their back. Should a complaint come to you, ensure the correct procedures are followed in dealing with that complaint.
- Offer opportunities for personnel to have a voice and feel listened to.
- Negotiate some discounts/services for staff from local vendors/companies (coffee shops, restaurants, gyms, hair and beauty salons, holiday firms etc.)
- Allow staff to use the school resources, e.g. swimming pool or fitness equipment for their own health and wellbeing or to share their talents and knowledge with others, e.g., through running book clubs, staff choir, sports/yoga sessions, arts & crafts, cookery or photography lessons.
- Trust your staff to be professional and to do their job. So, if a member of staff wants to leave right at the end of the school day (assuming they have no other commitments in school), then trust them, as both adults and professionals, to be ready and prepared for the next day.
Consider:
- What are your values and how are those communicated and lived across the school community?
- As members of SLT, how do you stay abreast of what is going on in the organisation? Who has an opportunity to speak to you on a regular basis?
- Is your performance management system designed to promote and support growth, or is it seen as a stick to beat teachers with?
- What support structures are in place for a staff member who may be struggling?
- Is it clear that there is a progression pathway for those who are keen to grow and develop (at all levels of the organisation)?
- Is equality to the fore in your school? Is your team diverse? Is that diversity represented at all levels of the organisation? Are all children/adults welcome?
A great place to work
The bottom line here is that recruiting the best people is now going to be harder than ever before. Schools need to actively be promoting themselves as, and get a genuine reputation for, being a great place to work. Schools should be aiming to have people discussing and sharing online, things like, “They are really good to their staff; it is apparently a great place to work”.
Author and CEO of Dumond Education, Simon Dunford is an experienced educator with over 25 years’ experience in teaching, leadership and advisory roles in many countries and regions worldwide.
Feature and support images: by geralt on Pixabay
Teaching overseas as a BIPOC educator
According to Adrienne Waller there are very good reasons why BIPOC educators should consider the opportunities offered by working overseas.
Keynote ideas from the FOBISIA Leadership Conference, 2022 and the winning entry from the 2021 FOBISIA Race4Good Journalism competition from the Year 8 Team at The British School in Tokyo.
Leading in an era of change
Room at the top
For Katie Tomlinson, addressing the gender disparity in school leadership is a matter of urgency. 7 steps are needed.
Future imperative
Is the future of learning in safe hands? Not unless we follow three imperatives according to Sir John Jones.
Compassionate Leadership
Dame Alison Peacock, considers the future of the profession during the post-Covid recovery.
Challenge and response
Critical incidents cause distress. Responding in the wrong way makes things worse. Ian Gross looks at the issues..
Leadership pivot
Ever had that moment when your words lack meaning? Diana Osagie makes the case for 'the leadership pivot'.
Ways forward
According to Lord Jim Knight, dealing with Covid came at a cost, but ways to improve teacher wellbeing are also here.
One family at a time
The winning entry of the 2021 FOBISIA R4G Journalism competition from The British School in Tokyo
Are schools only paying lip-service to international mindedness?
Often discussed, sometimes defined – but what does being internationally-minded really mean? Nalini Cook discusses the issue with Chris Allen and Anson Wong.
Taking the lead to change the way we teach
For Abigail Reed, a new report from UNESCO’s International Commission on the Futures of Education is a clarion call to action for international schools.
Make sure you know what’s included
Timeless advice, especially for first-time international teachers, from leading recruiter, Andrew Wigford, about how to compare different salary and benefit packages.
International teachers in big demand for 2022
According to Edvectus MD, Diane Jacoutot, international schools face a very tough year recruiting, with fewer teachers entering the market and many more needed.
Recent research highlights important developments in the recruitment of international teachers
A new report highlights key shifts in international school teacher recruitment and professional development. Anne Keeling has more.
Catalysing community-led change
Supporting projects in low-income contexts can reinforce inequalities between ‘supporters’ and ‘activists’ on the ground. EduSpots is a project based in Ghana that aims to address post-colonial issues head on. Cat Davison reports.
International educator, Dallin Bywater had not expected to become a Stay at Home Parent. It was the right choice, but not an easy one and led to a broader perspective on life.
Considering international teaching?
Dr. Natasha Ridge looks at 5 questions you should ask about yourself and the school that offers you an interview – or a job.
New perspectives on professional learning
At first there was a sense of loss, but Renee Rehfeldt thinks that Covid has made PD fairer and more accessible in international schools.
Call for nominations
Nominations for the International School Awards 2022, hosted by ISC Research are open until 30th September. Anne Keeling reports.
The most important future skill
Two keynotes. Two stories. One message about the future, and it might not be what you were expecting. Reflections on the COBIS 2021 conference from Andy Homden.
A guide for international educators
Dietitian and international teacher spouse Breanna Baildon knows what it’s like for busy teachers – but that’s why our eating habits have to change.
5 things to consider when offered a position by a ‘for profit school’
International schools are big businesses, and many are run ‘for profit’. Would teaching at a ‘for profit’ school be for you? Sadie Hollins has some pointers.
. . . when choosing an international school
Anne Keeling looks at a recent White Paper published by ISC Research which provides insight into what parents are looking for in an international school this year.
Supporting local staff in international schools
According to Henry Wong, helping local staff understand the micro-culture in which they work is as essential as orientating new international staff when they arrive.
Are you a good fit for teaching in an international school?
ITM’s Andy Homden reviews a new guide to international education, which should be on your reading list for 2021 if you are in the market for a new job in September.
New FOBISIA inter-school event takes off during lockdown
Andy Homden looks at a competition for international schools that simply would not have happened without lockdown, and seems destined to grow quickly.
Preserving cultural traditions in Slovenia
The coming of Spring is an important time in Slovenia, and local schools will play an even more important role in 2021 in preserving the traditions that mark this time of year, as Doroteja Kostanjevec reports.
The long view for international education in Egypt
Despite all the problems associated with Covid-19, Mansoor Ahmed reminds us that many longer term data point to further growth in international education. Egypt is a case in point.
Phys Ed teachers respond to Covid-19 as a global community
PE and sport in schools has been profoundly affected by the pandemic. Phil Mathe hates the constraints, but describes how PE teachers around the world have come together like never before to find solutions for their students.
Silk Road Dreaming
If you are captivated by the romance of travel, the Silk Road will have a special appeal. After visiting Uzbekistan before the pandemic, Elly Tobin has no doubt it should be high on the bucket list of any serious traveller.
Deep immersion
Hannah Rae spent 10 years working on a variety of educational projects in East Malaysia. This foraging expedition to the Borneo rainforest with Malaysian teenagers is a vivid memory.
Achieving deep awareness
For Felicity Gunn, enhanced intercultural mindedness, when practiced by the whole community, can take any school or business to new heights.
Picking up the baton
It’s been a long time since Ken Robinson’s famous TED talk in 2006. Andy Homden asks whether the baton of the learning revolution has been picked up by a new champion who is already putting ideas into practice on a large scale.
Singing in a global choir
Young people in schools around the world are fighting back against Covid-19 with music. Laurie Lewin invites your school to join in.
Teaching internationally during the Covid era.
There have been many stories about teachers trapped by quarantine, closed borders and cancelled flights in 2020. This is what happened to PE teacher, Roz O’Shea and her family.
Pandemic and response: the emerging picture
International education has been reeling under the pressure of Covid-19, but schools have shown great resilience. What is in fact going on? Will Bedford has the very latest data from ISC Research.