WOW is all we can say! We were ready for a change of pace from the UK school system and we got it is the best possible way.

We welcomed our students back this week after a whole week… and yes we did say a whole week… of training and time to organise our classrooms. Education is held in high regard here and as such staff are respected, welcomed and appreciated by students and the community. The overwhelmingly positive attitude the community has towards education is jarringly different to the UK. People shake your hand when they find out you’re a teacher here rather than telling you to solve all of societies issues by 3pm!

For our first week back the staff in the school were nothing but supportive; checking we had everything we needed and everything that could work did work. The nature of living on a tiny island means that when the internet goes down; the photocopier breaks; or there’s a lack of a particular resource, you have to be able to cope and have a plan B ready.

We have 25% PPA planned every week which is incredible. It meant we were doing very little work at home as we had time in the day to plan, prepare and have work marked. The caveat to the 25% PPA time is that we will be used for cover should someone be absent which is only fair. It’s very difficult to get supply teachers in such as small place.

Probably the biggest change, particularly for Adam, was the nature of a small school. I have worked in smaller North Yorkshire schools for years so understand that you rarely send an email to a colleague and wait for their reply – you just pop into their classroom. Paper registers are another wonderful throw back but they work. Why over complicate a system especially when the internet can be so hit and miss.

Student behaviour is another shock to the system. The students behave intrinsically well because they want to be in school and it’s the right thing to do. You can tell they value education and what the adults are trying to teach them. All children make mistakes – that’s how they learn – but they are more ready to listen to adults for guidance and discuss what happened calmly. Adam and I found the lack of being sworn at by 9am actually difficult to deal with for the first couple of days. We’ve throughly enjoyed teaching whole lessons with nothing but enthusiasm from the students even if it’s not their favourite subject.

For those thinking of emigrating, searching TES jobs right now for that new teaching job abroad, those researching how to get a visa at 3am – it is possible. Don’t get me wrong – we’ve worked hard and nothing in terms of planning and expectations has changed from the UK. However, the lack of exhausting behavioural challenges, the students engagement in lessons and the time given to staff to make these lessons mean your work day is even more enjoyable and we love it!

And, yes, we did manage to be on the beach by 3:30pm for a post work dip!

Want to switch it up and teach in paradise as well?

1. Find out more about how to find a job abroad;
2. Update your CV;
3. Get applying!

A year ago we were in the UK counting down the days to half term already, and now we’re living our best teacher lives 5000 miles away!