It is a common misconception that Early Career Teachers need to or should stay in the UK following the completion of their teaching training, but we are here to let you know that that’s not true.
Several years ago I decided to complete a PGCE with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) programme in the UK. I knew I loved working with children and helping them learn key skills, which assured me that teaching would be the ideal profession for me. Alongside this, I was also tempted by the fact that teaching would allow me to live in different countries and could provide endless travel opportunities; a lifestyle I had always wanted. However, when I began to look at jobs I saw many international schools asked for more experience than what I had. I was often told by those around me (and a couple of teacher influencers) that I should stay in the UK for at least two years and focus on improving my teaching skills before heading overseas.
Fortunately, I didn’t listen to this advice. While it may be suitable for some and may help them feel more confident in their skills, I was determined to move internationally and knew that that was what would bring me the most joy. I was lucky enough to find a great school in the Middle East that was willing to support me on my teaching journey. Soon enough, I found that I was packing my bags ready to head overseas!
Learning from an expert
The aim of this article is to give you a clear understanding of what the ECT induction is and help you explore your options as a new teacher. It will also serve as a starting point for those considering teacher training, with the hope of guiding you towards making an informed decision.
I am lucky enough to have Mark Bignell join us on this – an ECT induction expert!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Mark?
Mark: I am the ECT Induction Lead at Educational Success Partners. ESP are the Department for Education’s (DfE) sole specialist Appropriate Body overseeing ECT Induction in DfE accredited British Schools Overseas.
Ok great! So… what is ECT Induction?
So what exactly is ECT induction and why is it needed? Previously this was known as NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) induction and lasted a year. However, this has since changed, with the aim of providing new teachers with more support.
Mark: ECT Induction is the DfE’s two-year ECT induction period. The aim is to provide support for ECTs over an extended period of professional development and assessment against the DfE Teachers’ Standards.
It is hoped that this will make the initial years of teaching a better experience for more teachers and therefore the overall standard of teaching and teachers will rise, and a greater number of teachers will be retained in the profession.
Who is eligible for ECT induction?
Mark: ECT Induction can only be completed by teachers who have been awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the UK Department for Education (DfE). QTS is the professional license to teach awarded on behalf of the Secretary of State at the end of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). This could have been through completing ITT in England or through the iQTS or AO Route to QTS pathways overseas.
Do all international schools run ECT induction? How can I know which one to apply to?
Mark: While any international school can employ an ECT, the accreditation to run the ECT programme is limited to around 280 British international schools. To run the ECT induction programme, and have it certified by DfE, a school must:
- Have undertaken a BSO inspection within the last 6 years; and
- Have full membership of at least one of the following DfE recognised membership associations for British international schools (AoBSO, BSME, COBIS, FOBISIA, IAPS, LAHC or NABSS); and
- Be working with a DfE registered Appropriate Body (AB) like ourselves at ESP to support their Early Career Teachers (ECTs).
If a school cannot meet these 3 legal criteria then they cannot offer ECT induction that will be certified by the DfE at the end of the 2 year programme. Anyone who completes the programme overseas in an ineligible school will not have their ECT recorded on their TRA record and will be required to complete it when they take up an eligible post home or abroad.
Where can I find this information?
The UK Government website has a list of accredited BSO schools which you can find here, including the dates of their last inspection. Schools tend to mention which recognised membership associations they are part of on their website, however, for more information you can head directly to the associations’ pages: AoBSO, BSME, COBIS, FOBISIA, IAPS, LAHC and NABSS.
As always, make sure you research any school before applying so that you can be certain it’s the right fit for you. If you have any doubts or would like to know more about how they support ECTs, get in touch and ask by sending them an email.
The ECT experience: what can you expect?
While I can only speak based on my own experience as an ECT in an international setting, one thing that I noticed when speaking with friends in the UK who were also teachers was that I didn’t feel the same amount of pressure they did. While I still had to complete reports and have observations, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by these tasks and they felt manageable alongside my regular teaching requirements.
Mentors and observations
As part of your ECT induction, you will be placed with a mentor who will be an experienced colleague working at your school. Your mentor will be there to provide support and ensure you are meeting all the Teachers’ Standards. The expectation is that you meet weekly to discuss certain topics and share regular updates. I had two tutors (one per year) and both times our meetings felt quite laid-back and informal. They would come in to observe me teach a couple of times per term and would give suitable feedback in a friendly manner to help me improve my skills. I understand that this experience might not be the same for everyone, but remember that if at any point you are unhappy with the relationship with your mentor, you can speak to a member of SLT at your school.
Training sessions
Additionally, you will also be expected to attend training sessions. In my experience, these were normally led by staff with leadership roles and were based around a specific topic which linked to one of the standards. The sessions my school organised also had ECTs from other international schools attending, making it a good opportunity to share ideas and meet new people. We would only have around one session every half-term, so it didn’t take away too much of our time.
Reports
Alongside all of the above, you will also be expected to submit a report with evidence at the end of each term (which is uploaded to and marked by ESP). Before you start to worry – you don’t need to write pages and pages! You just have to write about what you have done throughout the term to meet each standard and show evidence; this could be lesson plans, meeting minutes, screenshots of emails to parents or pictures of your classroom. It doesn’t require any additional work, but rather serves as a reminder to make sure you are consistently working on your skills and are keeping the Teachers’ Standards in mind.
Why should I consider moving internationally as an ECT?
Living internationally can be incredibly fulfilling and can provide you with lots of opportunities to meet new people, gain new skills and even find new interests. Adapting to a new lifestyle has its challenges, but being able to refer to more than one country as ‘home’ is a luxury many don’t have. Teaching overseas means you also get to teach students from diverse backgrounds and you will soon find you can learn a lot from them too! For a more comprehensive (and convincing!) list of reasons to move internationally, check out our article on why you should consider making the move here.
What happens after I complete the ECT induction?
Mark: Once an ECT has completed their induction the world is their oyster! There are around 13,000 schools outside of England that align themselves with Britain and this could be the ideal next step in your career.
Once your ECT is completed and certified by the DfE you will have completed the same programme as your friends who stay in England, have it on your Teaching Regulation Agency record and be able to transition back to state maintained schools or independent schools in England later in your career.
Where can I look for jobs as an Early Career Teacher?
If you are ready to get started on your teaching journey, then you are in the right place! Here at Teacher Horizons we have a range of international opportunities suitable for new teachers. Our advisers will be there to support you throughout the application process and offer guidance. For those looking to complete their ECT induction, we also have many BSO accredited schools on our website. The best part of it all is that it’s free! To start browsing opportunities, create your profile here.
We hope this article has helped you explore your options and provided valuable insights into teaching abroad as an Early Career Teacher (ECT). While starting a new career can be daunting, don’t let it stop you from applying to your dream role and embarking on an exciting new adventure overseas!
Special thanks to Mark for his insights!
Mark is the Business Development Director of ESP. Mark has 15 years’ experience of supporting British international schools and has led on the development of services to the sector in this time. Mark leads on ESP’s Initial Teacher Training and ECT programmes along with our NPQ provision. In addition to his role with ESP, Mark also holds the role of Executive Officer for the Association of British Schools Overseas (AoBSO), the DfE recognised membership association for BSO accredited schools worldwide.
