Factors affecting the employment of teachers returning to the United Kingdom after teaching abroad

Summary

This paper is a preliminary investigation and discussion of the factors which British‐qualified teachers, returning to teach in the UK after having taught abroad, perceive as affecting their employment prospects. These factors include: the relative importance of experience of current developments in UK education, differing perspectives and understandings of international schools and the nature of the teaching experience abroad, the career patterns of employment in the UK and abroad and the experience and skills gained while abroad. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire which was distributed to a sample of teachers who had sought posts in the UK after having taught abroad. The analysis of teacher responses reveals that the teachers’ perceptions are similar regardless of gender, age and years of experience, both in the UK and abroad. The effect of local management of schools on the employment of older teachers is discussed. There is evidence that any experience of teaching abroad is at best seen as irrelevant, and at worst a negative factor, when applying for posts in the UK. A parallel may be drawn with people in the UK, usually women, who take career breaks and find that this disadvantages them when applying for teaching posts, particularly promoted posts. The analysis also reveals that the teachers perceive both overt and covert prejudice against them, although the reasons for this are difficult to determine.

Keywords:

• international
• returning
• teachers
• abroad
• employment
• United Kingdom