International schools call for more support to overcome teacher shortage
The international school sector has suggested a number of services to help alleviate the teacher supply shortage, with 91% of British international school leaders finding recruiting quality teachers ‘somewhat’ or ‘very challenging’.
The Council of British International Schools (COBIS) gathered more than 1,100 survey responses from senior leaders, incoming teachers, and outgoing teachers, to reveal the state of the international school sector.
Senior leaders highlighted just how much Covid-19 has impacted recruitment, with 40% reporting a lower volume of applications for each post, compared to two years ago. Just 19% said that they are always able to recruit candidates that meet their expectations.
Schools have adapted their recruitment practices to respond to the changing environment including the increased use of remote/virtual interviews (86%), earlier advertising of vacancies (49%) and increased recruitment of local staff (46%).
However, there is a feeling that the wider education system needs to do more to help with the new challenges. Leaders want to see better recognition of overseas experience by UK State and Independent Schools (51%), straightforward conversion routes to QTS for internationally trained teachers (49%), and recognition of international teaching qualifications (48%).
“More consistent recognition of the benefits and value of international service, and the breadth of experience and backgrounds within the global teacher workforce, is needed to ensure teachers with international experience are welcomed, encouraged and supported to enter or return to the UK school sector,” said the COBIS report.
As the report highlights, working internationally is considered temporary by many teachers. Nearly half (49%) of incoming teachers say they are definitely or possibly planning to return to teaching in the UK in the future.
The main reasons why teachers consider leaving the international sector are concern about being separated from family/friends (53%), return home (44%) and family commitments (34%).
However, teachers are positive about their international school experience with 83% reporting that they are happy or very happy with their experience.
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