Your NQT Year - Home or Away?

You're well on your way to becoming a qualified teacher and all of your hard work during your training is soon to become worth the wait. But how can you get the most out of your teaching career? I spoke to one of my closest friends and coursemates, Sammy, to bring you a first hand look to both sides of the story - being an NQT in the UK like her, or abroad like me. It's a big decision to make, so read on to find out the pros and cons of both options!

The job search

The UK

Looking for teaching jobs in the UK is a tedious process. There are so many avenues, websites and agencies to trawl through that it can get very overwhelming. Every county has its job website, agencies cover certain areas and have different terms... I found myself with 5 pinned tabs on my browser around application time - one for every county I'd consider working in. When jobs start popping up, each one will most likely have a different application process. A CV, personal statement, application form, letter of application or any combination of the above may be required, and it can be a frustrating time for any trainee. On top of that, they have to accept NQTs.

Sammy managed to secure her job through an agency. She was a strong candidate and chose to work in the London fringe, and her agency took care of her throughout the process. We were lucky that our university had put on a careers fair and we'd all signed up to every agency, which took out a lot of the legwork! She had a dedicated person to help her through the process, and asked her a few questions about herself and what she was looking for in a school. Sammy says the agency were supportive and got her an interview in 3 days!

Abroad

If you've been following my blog, you know I'm in Kuwait. Finding a job here, in comparison to my experience in the UK, was a breeze. I found my company at the same careers fair Sammy found her agency. My company was the only one representing an international school, which interested me. I simply sent my CV to them, and was offered an interview. However, of course it is not always that easy, but I think it is truly easier to find an NQT role abroad than in the UK. Check out my previous blog about how to find an NQT role abroad for more information.

The Interview Process

The UK

I never got to the full interview stage in the UK, because after a telephone interview with one school and them finding out I was an NQT, I'd already accepted my job abroad. Sammy however, has been through the entire process. On the day of the interview, she had three things she had to do. First, she had to teach a maths lesson on fractions to a year 2 greater depth class whilst the head teacher and deputy head observed her. She needed to give them a lesson plan before she taught the lesson, and introduce herself and the task to her TA. After that she had a formal 40 minute interview with the head and deputy. Luckily, she was given the job on the spot at the end of her interview. Lastly, she was given a full tour of the school, which helped her to get a feel of the environment to see if she'd like to work there.

Abroad

My interview process was much simpler. Obviously I didn't have to travel anywhere, so I took my interview over skype with a representative from the company. It was scheduled over WhatsApp and then took about an hour, during which questions about my teaching style were asked, and I was given scenarios for which I had to give answers. After the process, I was emailed the next day with an informal job offer, which I accepted without hesitation. I obviously didn't get to visit the school before hand which meant I couldn't assess the environment for myself, but that didn't bother me and was outweighed by everything else.

From the Interview to your First Day

The UK

After accepting her job, Sammy received the initial job offer letter and a pack that she had to fill out. The pack was for administration, and included basics like getting a new DBS check, her personal details and giving them her payment information. She was in constant contact with the head teacher's PA, which was great because she always knew what was going on. Sammy's school gave her the opportunity to start work right after we'd finished all our lectures, which meant she could meet her children, see her classroom and begin to settle in before the new academic year began in September, without having to teach (she even got paid for it too!). She had a long, free summer then as she was told she didn’t need to prep anything planning wise over summer.

Abroad

My process between interview and my first day was a lot more stress-inducing! I had to complete medical tests, and get all my documents (passport, DBS, work entry visas, degree, transcripts...) attested by a solicitor, the Foreign Office and then the Kuwait embassy in London. It was a very lengthy, expensive and frustrating process, and meant I had to do a lot of waiting around. All of my expenses were covered, but I had to set up an overdraft to cover the initial payment! Once all of the legwork was done, I emailed copies of my documents to my contact at my company, and she booked my flights for me. I flew out in August, a week after finishing the process - it was a close call but it was done! During my first 2 weeks in Kuwait, my company took us on some amazing day trips, meals, excursions and we had to attend two conferences in a luxury hotel (with an amazing buffet!) to meet all of the staff who were both new and returning. We then had a week to prepare our classrooms and meet the teachers at our branch. I only found out during this week which year I was teaching, which was incredibly frustrating as I was desperate to know!

The NQT Process

The UK

As Sammy's school is part of a trust of schools, they have a dedicated person who is in charge of overseeing all of the NQTs and she visits her once a week to ensure she is progressing well. In addition to this, Sammy has a specific mentor too, who observes her formally once a term. She also meets weekly with her mentor to talk about the past week and set new targets for herself. Her evidence is kept online through a system, where she can upload anything important and mentors can write up her assessments. It is worthy to note that many schools will require a physical file system to evidence, just like university.

Abroad

I have a similar system to Sammy, in the sense that I upload all of my evidence online too through a different company. I have an NQT mentor (my year leader) who observes me formally twice a term and drops in to my lessons regularly to see how things are going. The online forms are incredibly easy to fill out, and means it's all in one place. I am observed by the Vice Principal, the Principal and the Executive Principal on occasion too, but that's to ensure continuous professional development. The Executive Principal oversees all the NQTs in the company, and as there are many of us and many have completed the programme before, it's safe to say I'm in good hands here.

Final Thoughts

It's a very tough choice to complete your NQT year abroad, away from friends, family and familiarity. Sammy is very fortunate to have a similar level of support to me during her NQT year, as in the UK it can be very hit or miss depending on how used to NQTs your school is (just like how used to having student teachers they are when you're on placement - their experience can make or break you). When you undergo your NQT year abroad, most schools that offer the programme have done so for years and it is fully accredited as they will have to be a member of COBIS. International schools tend to take on a lot of NQTs as they see us as the most "up-to-date" in terms of curriculum knowledge and understanding, so generally they will see you through your NQT year smoothly. There are pros and cons to both, but both Sammy and I are incredibly happy with our situations. Wherever you choose to do your NQT year, make sure it's a choice you are happy with, and take into account everything including salary and salary progression, emotional strain and job benefits. Completing your NQT year is tough; you've never had full control of a whole class and been accountable for it before - so ensure you're making the most of it!