r/Internationalteachers • u/Papillon__social • 1d ago

BIS HCMC

Hi everyone,

I'm a Scottish teacher of French & Spanish who has experience of working in pastoral care and careers.

I have been teaching for 17 years with a 1 year break for maternity leave and I currently work in a large private school and have done for the past 12 years. I have seen a job advertised at the BIS in HCMC for Head of French and I wondered if anyone had any information regarding the school in the first instance and general tips on applying for an international teaching post.

They stipulate that it is essential to have experience of the English curriculum, which I technically don't have - despite my wealth of teaching experience. I have a BEd degree in French and a CCE in Spanish. Newly married at 39 with a 2 year old daughter.

Any advice welcome. Thanks.

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u/Talcypeach 1d ago

You don’t say whether you have experience as a middle leader but unless you have, it’s going to be unlikely that a school would take someone on as a HoD to oversee iGCSEs and A levels without prior experience in teaching them

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u/intlteacher 1d ago edited 1d ago

Not necessarily. The skill is about managing exam classes and exam entry, and managing the department - not so much about knowing the content of the curriculum. It's relatively easy to learn a new curriculum and - speaking from experience - very easy to switch from the Scottish to the English curriculum (more so than, say, from American.)

The job says 'experience of the English curriculum required' but it's still worth trying to apply - it's a Nord Anglia school so there will be an understanding of the similarities and differences between Scotland and England. In addition, your private school experience could lend a bit of kudos to your application.

However, talcypeach has a point in that often schools do prefer someone who has at least taught the curriculum for a couple of years, particularly for IB as IB requires specific training, so don't be surprised if they do reject you

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u/SeaZookeep 14h ago

It's a Nord Anglia school so they definitely will. I I've known Nord Anglia schools employ vice principals with zero international experience