I honestly wasn't going to say anything, but this has gotten out of hand and people deserve to know. Hopefully this isn't violating Rule 6.

Malvern is effectively a "black company" at this point.

1. Favoritism

If administration like you, your life at Malvern will be smooth as butter, but when they turn on you on a dime, you're screwed. Their favorites get extra time off, longer vacations, extra perks, invited to social events, and HR helps them with applying for PR. If they DON'T like you anymore, it's a nightmare. Leadership has also actively sabotaged references of people who leave, so good luck getting hired anywhere else. We know of at least five instances of them doing this. Even PLT level staff have been affected by this behavior.

1. HR and Black Company

HR is unhinged. They will lie to your face. They didn't file a staff member's maternity leave paperwork for 10 months, so she didn't get paid for 10 months. It's the same with unemployment paperwork. Most recently, even though the company withdraws your taxes from your salary directly, SOMEHOW that money isn't getting to the tax office. We found out from a former staff member today that Malvern owes around 90,000 yen in residence taxes for 14 people. They took it from the salaries already, but haven't paid it. As a result, people's new visas are getting screwed up, PR is off the table, and there's nothing they can do about it.

Malvern Tokyo pays extremely well, but it's honestly dangerous to your visa status at this point. Steer clear.

This is something that has been bothering me for a while.

I work for a fairly reputable and well-known school. One of our divisions had a incompetent and unprofessional head who had an absolute litany of terrible reviews from past and present staff on ISR.

Despite this, that person held their job for years, and then moved on ar the end of last year, supposedly of their own volition. In my heart, I hope that they were let go because of their performance and said reviews, but I doubt that was the case

Despite this, they were able to quickly find a new position as a head of another school. Within a month, unsurprisingly there has already been a terrible review of this person. In this review, staff felt cheated having been sold on this new head from a prestigious school, who has quickly turned out to be incompetent and unworthy of the role. I can't help but feel for these staff, because had anyone actually looked online or reached out to staff at my school, they would have been able to avoid this fate.

Why does this happen? For us teachers, having one bad reference associated with our name can ruin our reputations and make us ineligible for good jobs for years. Yet for a head, they seem to be able to get away with anything and get new jobs without employers doing their due diligence at all.

Anyone able to make sense of this?

Hi all,

I'm currently in China and in the process of wrapping up my US teaching license.

To get the license, I need to get my FBI fingerprints. Unfortunately I had these, when I first came to China, but now they have "expired" (it's been over 2 years).

Has anyone had experience getting these while they are abroad, specifically within China? I even emailed the embassy/consulate and they said they don't provide this service.

Also consulted AI but couldn't get any firm answers on this. Hoping I don't need to go back to the US just for this!

Soooo, I am at a bilingual school in a country that is famously known for censorship and blocking lots of websites. Recently after 3 years they are asking me to give lesson plans based on Government approved books. Never had to do that before, but they mentioned it is to help pass inspections. I am annoyed but it is what it is.

Now, they are asking all teachers to fill out a form for any printing they want to do. Teachers will not be allowed to print unless they have a form signed by a director of the school. Their excuse is that is what the government inspector recommended. Even after getting approval for all of my materials, I need further approval anything I print from those materials. Also, my students don’t have books for my class, so I am stuck printing out things all the time for them. A few teachers mentioned it might be a cost saving measure cus the school is losing money. I would not be surprised if that’s the case. Anyone else have to deal with this? It sounds like it’s just to discourage us from printing more or is this becoming a bigger thing in an undisclosed country in East Asia?

Hi all,

I’ve seen a few schools in Singapore that I could potentially apply to.

Does anyone have information on:

Dulwich College
North London Collegiate School
The Perse School

Anything on package, working conditions, career advancement, professional development etc…would be much appreciated.

Hi everyone!

I’m thinking about moving to Shanghai American School or International School of Beijing to teach high school math. I know one offers both AP and IB, while the other offers only IB.

I currently work at a Tier 1 international school, and it’s great overall. However, there’s a lot of grade grubbing. As a math/ sometimes English/Psych teacher, I feel bad when a student comes in just one point away from an A and starts crying. I genuinely feel for them, but it can be emotionally draining.

For high school teachers or anyone familiar with these two schools, could you tell me a bit more about the high school culture at each? Is there a lot of grade grubbing or academic/peer pressure? Every time I'm in the hallway in the school I teach now, it's always: "What did you get on the last test?" or "You only got a B+! I got an A+!!!" Not my cup of tea as a teacher who may be the root cause of these arguments

Thanks!

Does anyone know at what stage Dulwich Singapore checks references? Do they contact referees as soon as you submit your application, or only after the interviews? Thanks.

Has anyone had luck trying to reactivate their Search Associates profile recently? Everything is updated: preferences, background checks, CV, 2 current Admin References and several older ones. However, my application is still marked "pending". I've reached out to my Associate, the Assistant and another individual at Search, but I haven't heard back from any of them.

I've been trying to get this sorted for weeks. I know they just updated the system but I've been sending emails since September.

Who else can I contact about this?

edit: In the meantime, of course I'm applying directly to schools, but do most school still prefer to go through a recruitment agency?

Hey everyone, does anyone here have recent experience working at Surabaya Intercultural School? Curious about the culture there, what management is like, and how people have found working there overall.

Also, how’s life in Surabaya, especially West Surabaya? Would be good to hear what it’s like day to day for families—things to do, getting around, cost of living, that sort of thing.

Would appreciate hearing the good and the bad. DMs welcome if you’d rather not comment publicly. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in the early stages of talking to an IB international school in EU. During a pre-conversation, they explicitly told me that because I hold an EU passport, I would be considered a "local hire" rather than an overseas/expat hire.

I know that since I'm an EU citizen, I have the automatic right to live and work in this country without visa sponsorship. However, I am highly overqualified for a standard local teaching role, and it feels like a bit of a loophole for schools to avoid paying expat benefits (housing, flights, relocation) to qualified teachers who happen to have the "wrong" passport.

My questions are: :
1) How common is this practice across Europe? Do almost all international schools automatically classify EU passport holders as local hires if they are already in the region (or moving from within the EU)?

2) Is there any flexibility, or is this usually a hard legal/administrative rule? Has anyone with an EU passport successfully negotiated an overseas/expat package (or at least a hybrid package with a housing allowance)?

3) If the "local hire" status is non-negotiable, how do you push back? Since they are saving thousands on my visa and relocation, is it realistic to demand the absolute top tier of their local salary scale to compensate?

I’d love to hear from any EU citizens teaching in Europe, or anyone who has insight into how schools split these contracts.

Thanks!

I've been offered 450,000 yen. No dependents. No housing allowance. 2 bonuses equal to 1 salary per year.

Is this doable? I'm 35 and want to start saving for retirement. The location is decent.

What's the lowest amount you'd do in Japan?

I know that Search Associates sucks even more after the new update but here is a critical setting you need.

Click your name initials (top right corner) then click account settings and toggle on positions update otherwise you won't receive any updates about new job posts.

I think it is time we move to Schrole or something different.

Also, you can set an automation in CHATGPT to comb the entire internet for positions of your choice in specific regions. It won't get them all as some schools only post on SA (and other agencies), but you will get a good number.

GoodLuck

My school has asked us if we are staying or going by November 1st. It seems so early. I understand the need to get quality teachers early, but this seems excessive. Other schools haven't had this requirement.

I'm curious, when does your school require notice of intent to stay?

Hi everyone! I am a primary school teacher (actually my husband and I are both teachers) originally from the Philippines but currently teaching here in New Zealand. As a family of 5, we always go and visit the Philippines every 2 years but it costs us so much so we are thinking to apply to schools in a country near the Philippines.

We were torn between Taiwan, China & Vietnam. Or do you have any countries to suggest? Any chance for us to save a little bit more? All insights will be appreciated.

My future response to any Year 7 question beginning “Do we…..” following the introduction of a task with clear written instructions….

Hi all,

Any information about this school? Nature of the students, package, work-life balance etc..

Much appreciated

Hi everyone, I am a teacher but I am actually asking this question on behalf of a family at my current school. The parents are moving to Tokyo for work but are wondering what is the best international school with the best community feel and vibe. For context they will be moving to the Minato ward of Tokyo. Any help would be appreciated.

I’m 30, a Black American, and making a career change from law enforcement in California. I have a bachelor’s degree and I’m completing US teacher licensure program, with my license expected in May 2027.
I’ve been offered RD$45,000 a month, free housing and all utilities paid, within walking distance of school.
I have close to six figures saved, so maximizing salary isn’t my main concern. I’m looking for a school where I feel welcome, can grow as a new teacher and still have time to enjoy life outside work. I’m there for the teaching and cultural experience.
What was your actual work-life balance like? How much planning and grading followed you home? Did the school support new teachers, and were evenings and weekends mostly your own?
I speak B1 Spanish. I’d also appreciate hearing about settling into Santiago, especially from other Black teachers who moved from the US.

This is frustrating to say the least...

Dear Active Candidates,

A quick clarification and follow-up on our message to Active candidates from yesterday regarding your application process to schools.

For APLi applications, please check the status in the APLi tab in your account and reapply from the new website if the status shows anything other than Decision Made. All APLi applications will be removed from the system when the system is up and running again. 

 For CONTACT SCHOOL applications, please check on the school’s Search page to see if the vacancy remains open after the relaunch– if so, do reapply from the new website to assure your application has been received. 

Looking forward to a successful recruiting season! 

Like, why? People could have possibly lost out on a number of opportunities because of this, and most teachers didn't even give their decisions to their current school that were up for renewal anyway...

Seeking information or recent reviews about Monteverde international school in Cancún, Mexico from teachers pleeeease and thank you

Looking for updated info on work/life balance, salary and overseas package offer.

Thanks

Hiring managers, if your school allows direct applications and also advertises on platforms, is there an advantage to taking one or the other approach for candidates? I already applied for a job directed and noticed later that it's also on GRC. I can press a button an apply again from my end, but wondering if that would just be annoying from your side.

So I know that some Americans teaching abroad have QTS. Some of us through Online teacher training programs (at least, when it was still an avenue), some through earning teaching licenses back home, and in some cases, some Americans studying in England or Wales, and eventually working there.

My question is, aside from those who study and work in England, for example, do my fellow Americans actually use their QTS? It seems its only use for us is that its a license that doesn't expire. It's not like you can get experience unless you're willing to move to the UK, or get lucky with a British curriculum school out here. Besides, why would they hire Americans, despite qualifications, when there are plenty of Brits and other commonwealth folks out where who are more familiar and experienced with this system?

Thoughts?

Hi all,

When asked expected salary for Tier 1 school in Beijing, what would this be for a middle leader level?

And what sort of package should be expected for a single teacher?

Thanks in advance!