For many teachers, this time of the year is a daunting one. With fatigue setting in from a busy first two terms, examinations around the corner and curriculum content still to be covered, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Perhaps this is why the spring term often sees many teachers in the UK exploring the option of a career in the international teaching sector - tempted by the lure of greater autonomy, tax-free salaries, temperate climates and new opportunities.

Indeed, having spent the last ten years overseas, including stints in Spain, Abu Dhabi, Moscow and Dubai, I can vouch that the life of an international teacher can be a hugely rewarding one.

But, if you are intrigued by the idea of working abroad, how do you go about finding a school that right’s for you? After all, there are over 12,000 in the market now and they all have fancy websites and claim they offer world-leading teaching in state-of-the-art facilities and so forth.

But just as in the UK, all international schools have different cultures and ways of working so it is important to do your research before applying to see if the school in question is right for you.

This is not always easy when they’re halfway around the world but there are ways you can get a feel for an international school with some proper research - and without having to leave your sofa.

Understand the market 

The quality of the international schooling sector can be loosely grouped into three tiers. Tier 1 schools are the premium schools and by far the most desirable. These schools are either long-established, originally serving the children of expatriate diplomats and military service personnel, or they are the sister school of a UK private school.

Tier 2 schools don’t benefit from the same reputation as their Tier 1 rivals, but they can still often offer an outstanding education, at a more affordable price. The range of quality within these schools is varied but, by and large, students and staff have a good experience.

Then come the Tier 3 schools. On paper, they can look like a Tier 2 school, but the reality is very different. These schools generally put the focus on profit above all else and this can mean they don’t always have education and the best interests of the children as their foremost priority - despite what they may claim. As a result, the quality of the education can be lacking and many staff are not qualified teachers.

Of course, some Tier 3 schools are simply up-and-coming and have good intentions, and go on to break into that Tier 2 category. But spotting the good from the bad is not easy - and that is why it is important you do further due diligence…

Look at accreditation

One way to help with the above is to look for accreditation. This is important as, overall, international schools are not governed by any set of common rules. In fact, anyone can set up an “International School of (insert city name here)”. So how do you ensure that they adhere to or even believe in the same types of standards that you would expect at home?

Organisations such as the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and the Council of International Schools (CIS) were set up to provide this level of assurance. COBIS was set up almost 40 years ago and ensures high standards in all areas of school life.

Membership requires schools to undergo a rigorous inspection process. The standards that are examined during inspection are not limited to best practice in the UK. In fact, the standards are taken from best practice from school systems all around the world.

If schools pass this process, they become an accredited member. There are approximately 250 schools around the world with COBIS accreditation, so this gives you some idea of the level of exclusivity, and quality, that a COBIS accreditation brings.

When considering whether to apply for a school internationally, it is one of the first things you should look for. Any school that takes itself seriously is accredited with at least one of the major international organisations.

Reputation and leadership

Regardless of where you go in the world, it is difficult to avoid the inspection process.

While frustrating for the teachers within the school, this is a useful guide for those looking at potential new schools.

As such, check out the school website or take a quick search on Google to find where the school sits in terms of inspection outcomes. For some, like the United Arab Emirates, there are national benchmarks. For others, COBIS membership means a BSO (British Schools Overseas) inspection, which will grade the various areas of the school.

Another key metric is the “stock” of the leadership. Where have they come from and what is their legacy in previous schools? What reputation do they bring with them from previous schools? These are key things to consider when deciding whether they are someone you could or would want to work with.

Delve into their online presence

International schools usually always have a strong and active social media presence. This is a key part of any school’s marketing strategy and it aims to reflect the best of the day-to-day life at the school.

As such, you can find out a lot from a school’s Twitter or Facebook pages. With this being said, bear in mind that it is their “best foot forward”, as they look to promote an image to the community - but it can still be instructive about what they really value and see as worth promoting. For example, a school that claims it’s focused on arts and performance, but then only posts stories or videos about sport, may get you thinking.

A school’s website is also really valuable when it comes to getting “under the skin” of a new school. Is the curriculum clearly mapped? Is there a clear commitment to safeguarding? Are policies easy to find and accessible?

Check their core policy documents

A deeper dive into the policies of the school will give you a lot of information about the school and these should be available on the website. Crucially, it will help you to understand whether they really do what they say they do.

While this isn’t glamorous or exciting, reading through these key documents will tell you much of what you need to know. Another key sign is the commitment to safeguarding in the recruitment process.

Is there are clear commitment to safeguarding stated in the advert for the post you are thinking of applying to? Is the policy reflective of UK best practice? If not, this is a serious red flag and a school you want to avoid.

Reach out and ask

This is certainly the best way to get a true feel for your potential new workplace. The international teaching community is actually a very small one. Despite the exponential growth in the sector over the past 15 years, there is rarely more than two or three degrees of separation between colleagues around the world.

As such, if you’re really interested in a school, ask around. Someone will either know someone who works or has worked there, or who has worked for one of the leadership team.

Why it matters

This can be time-consuming but it’s worth doing because, then, if you do see a job that looks enticing and you want to apply, you can feel more informed that the school will, hopefully, be the right fit for you and worth making the move overseas for.

Of course, though, even if you do all these things, things can still go awry that you need to be aware of when thinking of life as an international teacher. We’ll explore that in the second part of this series next week.

Paul Gardner is vice-principal at Methodist College in Belfast and the author of So, you want to teach abroad available for pre-order in April. He has previously worked in international schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Russia and Spain