Last year we posted a blog about our recent school visits here. In this week’s blog, we continue to share this valuable feedback. Our team at Teacher Horizons have a thorough understanding of what makes a school desirable from a teacher’s perspective. We travel to our schools and check in with the quality and environment of the place often so that we can share this wealth of information with you. We know how useful it is for teachers in making a decision about whether they would like to work there. Here are some of the schools we have visited recently, and what we found out.
School name: The British School of Jakarta
Country and city: Jakarta, Indonesia
Curriculum/s: British
Who visited?: Alex
How did you get to the school?
I took a taxi to the school early in the morning – still slightly jetlagged from a long flight from London. Traffic in Jakarta is famously bad and there’s a saying that it ‘takes two hours to go anywhere in Jakarta’. That is a slight exaggeration and I wasn’t staying too far away but we still managed to bump into a motorbike, luckily he was fine – he hardly turned back to look (seems pretty standard for Jakarta!) It helped wake me up though and it was amazing watching hundreds of people, children and animals all rushing around starting their days as we drove through the hot busy streets in the morning sunshine.
Where is it located?
The British School of Jakarta is located in the outskirts of town which is why the campus is so big and green. The area is called Bintaro, in South Tangerang and it’s a quieter more residential part of town, away from the madness of the city centre. Jakarta has a population of over 10 million so being based in a quieter neighbourhood makes it a much more appealing place to work than other parts of the city.
How big was the school?
The school was founded in 1973 and has become one of the m
ost established and highly regarded schools in South East Asia. It has grown considerably over the years and now has almost 1,500 students from nursery to eighteen. Students are from all over the world.
What were the buildings and facilities like?
Did you speak to any staff members? If so, how were they finding it?
What was the best thing about the school in your opinion?
There are many great things about the school but I think one of its big draws is the package they offer. As the cost of living is low in Indonesia, most teachers are able to save considerably. I think the other great thing about the school is that it is located about half an hour from Jakarta’s international airport so teachers can easily get to a wide range of destinations around South East Asia for holidays and even places like Bali for weekends
School name: Deira Private School
Country and city: Dubai, UAE.
Curriculum/s: UK national curriculum
Who visited?: Laura
How did you get to the school? Where is it located?
How big was the school?
What were the buildings and facilities like?
Did you speak to any staff members? If so, how were they finding it?
What was the best thing about the school in your opinion?
Were there any downsides that teachers should be aware of?
Have a read of our Happy Teacher Archives, for more happy teachers in Europe and other locations.
School name: Western Academy of Beijing
Country and city: Beijing, China
Curriculum/s: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate (DP), International Baccalaureate (MYP), International Baccalaureate (PYP), SAT Reasoning Test
Who visited?: Maggie
How did you get to the school?
Travelling in China can be a little tricky because you can’t access Google maps, so it is a good idea to plan your journey the night before. I usually take lots of screenshots so that I can navigate without the use of the internet! The metro is easy to use though and there is an app called Didi which is the Chinese version of Uber. When visiting schools, I tend to get to the nearest metro station and take a Didi the rest of the way so that I don’t get lost. A good tip is to have a Chinese version of the school’s address because most taxi drivers don’t understand English.
Where is it located?
The school is located in the Chaoyang District of Beijing which is one of the largest districts, but the school itself is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main city.
How big was the school?
The school has an amazing campus and it is incredibly well-resourced. There is a river that runs through the campus and to get from one part of the school to the other, you have to walk over a huge bridge which has a fantastic view. Despite the size of the campus, it still has a friendly feel and I felt very welcome. The school was founded in 1994 and has over 1,500 students.
What were the buildings and facilities like?
The buildings are pretty huge – they are modern, clean and well-maintained with fully equipped classrooms as well as a theatre, gym and swimming pool. There is an air purification system in the whole school (every class, gym, auditorium, offices, corridors etc) that keep the indoor air very clean and purified. There are also tranquil areas such as the Chinese Garden, Secret Garden, Peace Park and Duck Lake. I was lucky to visit on a clear, sunny day and the outdoor areas were vibrant and colourful.
Did you speak to any staff members? If so, how were they finding it?
The staff at the school were very friendly, happy and welcoming. There is a very low staff turnover and most teachers stay for several years often extending their contracts. To have this school on your CV would definitely open the doors to most international schools around the world!
What was the best thing about the school in your opinion?
The campus was one of the best that I have ever seen! A great mix of spaces dedicated to learning as well as areas that can be used to relax and take in the scenery. Beijing is an amazing place to live; the capital city of one of the world’s fastest-growing countries with easy access to many cultural attractions and endless food options as well as great public transport and a cheap cost of living