Teaching Abroad Direct
According to House of Commons Library statistics published in February 2026, in November 2024 there were around 468,000 full-time teachers in England. In their first year, between 10% and 15% of newly qualified teachers left the state sector. This appears at odds with the current Labour government's target to increase the number of teachers by 6,500 by the end of the current parliament.
According to the same research, as of November 2024, 9% of teachers left the state-sector sector in 2023/24 (including those retiring). Between 30% and 33% left within their first five years of teaching. Teachers remained in post for longer historically.
For many teachers at all levels of their careers (from newly qualified professionals to seasoned subject specialists and department heads), the current teaching landscape in the UK is marred in challenges surrounding mental health, and feels increasingly unsustainable.
TES Magazine reports that more than 120,000 teachers applied for roles abroad in 2025, with the Middle East and general Gulf region being the most popular destination to teach in. Holding a British teaching qualification (such as QTS or PGCE) opens career doors across the globe. International demand for UK-trained teachers has reached unprecedented heights as foreign economies grow, offering a rewarding way to build a long-term teaching career without sacrificing work-life balance or standards of living.
In this blog, we discuss why more British teachers are leaving the UK to teach abroad, whether teaching abroad is worth it, and where qualified UK teachers can find jobs.
A study by the University of Manchester, published in the British Educational Research Journal has revealed that surviving teaching roles in England requires exceptional levels of mental toughness to cope with relentless workload and stress. But rather than expecting UK teachers to endlessly absorb workplace strain, many are recognising that the problem isn't their personal resilience – it's their environment.
Rather than leaving the profession entirely or moving to a different industry, thousands of British teachers every year are choosing a far more fulfilling route: taking their UK qualifications abroad.
Moving to an international school allows teachers to escape the UK's administrative grind while preserving the career they worked so hard for.
The retention crisis in English schools isn't just about workload. It’s actually about a complete lack of personal autonomy. According to research from the National Education Union (NEU), an astounding 44% of UK teachers plan to leave the profession within five years, with a lack of flexible working options cited as a key reason.
While many jobs across various industries have embraced hybrid schedules and more flexible work patterns, state education in the UK remains largely rigid. As research from workplace consultancy Timewise points out, many teachers end up quitting or taking drastic pay cuts simply because UK schools struggle to accommodate basic flexibility, such as remote planning time or adaptable timetabling.
While some forward-thinking Academy Trusts in the UK are experimenting with flexible working, the reality for most teachers is that UK schools operate on an all-or-nothing, highly rigid schedule. This is unlike many schools abroad, where lessons are given online, working and learning patterns are flexible, and teachers can plan lessons remotely thanks to access to the latest technologies.
A former headteacher based in the UK writing on collegeapp.co.uk claims that teachers generally enter the profession because they want to help young people, but many are leaving because they blame the current system.
From this teacher's perspective (and in their opinion as a headteacher), overhauls to the UK curriculum have drastically raised performance indicators, forcing schools into focusing on exam cramming at the expense of deeper learning. Increased expectations for prolonged sitting and desk work have restricted hands-on, more engaging teaching methods, disproportionately impacting younger pupils and those who thrive in more active learning settings.
Increased behavioural challenges have also pushed exclusions to unprecedented levels, with the number of children placed in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) doubling since 2011. Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) also face disproportionate hurdles in such a high-pressure system, leaving them more likely to be excluded.
For many educators, this shift has transformed teaching from a rewarding career into an ongoing exercise in crisis management. It explains why so many British teachers are choosing to take their qualifications abroad, where international schools offer smaller class sizes, greater curriculum autonomy and the support needed to focus on education. According to a report in hyphenonline.com, which quotes the International School Consultancy, as of June 2024 around 145,000 British teachers were working in international schools abroad – a 50% increase since 2014-15.
Official figures from the Department for Education’s Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders survey confirm that full-time teachers in England average over 51 hours per week, with secondary heads and senior leaders logging closer to 57 hours. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) consistently ranks teaching at the top of UK professions for unpaid overtime, with staff carrying out over 12 hours of unpaid labour every single week just to stay afloat. Teachers in the UK need to stay on top of multi-tier marking policies, rigid lesson planning templates and data tracking systems to prepare for Ofsted inspections. When the demand to document actions outweighs the time available, some teachers find themselves working late into the evening and giving up their weekends simply to input metrics into spreadsheets.
Making the move to international schools allows British teachers to avoid the admin headache. International institutions operate in a highly competitive global market, meaning their primary focus is on student engagement and academic quality rather than red tape and logging numbers. Teachers who teach abroad benefit from more time set aside for lesson planning, preparation and assessment time integrated directly into their school day, meaning they can reclaim their evenings and weekends for their personal lives.
Class sizes are also much smaller in foreign schoolrooms, and are often capped at 15 to 20 pupils compared to the 30-plus standard in UK state schools, meaning that teachers can give each pupil more time and attention and are able to plan more interactive and engaging lessons in contrast to fuller classes sitting at desks for long periods.
Wages play a huge role in why teachers leave the UK. When paired with high domestic inflation and challenging current financial markets, rising mortgage rates and a soaring cost of living, teachers at many different stages of their careers are finding that moving up the UK pay ladder no longer translates to a noticeable increase in disposable income.
Teaching overseas offers teachers more income by focusing compensation on total take-home value rather than just a baseline gross figure. In many international schools, and especially those in regions like the Middle East (specifically the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait), salaries are completely exempt from income tax, meaning 100% of your earnings land directly into your bank account. Teachers also sign contracts in which their pay isn't just a basic salary – it also includes things like health insurance, free fully furnished housing (covering rent and utilities), subsidised education for dependents, flights to and from a country and an end of contract bonus. These financial packages are designed to reduce living costs and enable teachers to boost their savings potential and the amounts of money they can put aside. Many popular international destinations offer structural tax advantages that are impossible to match in the UK.
Even in countries where income tax applies, a significantly lower cost of living often means more money in teachers' pockets. In fast-growing education markets across East and Southeast Asia particularly, such as Thailand, Vietnam and China, a standard international teaching salary stretches considerably further than it would in the UK.
Teachers living in these regions frequently report being able to save a substantial portion of their salary each month while enjoying a high quality of life. From eating out regularly and travelling across the region during school holidays, to hiring domestic help. Rather than feeling squeezed by monthly bills, British teachers abroad enjoy the financial freedom, security and lifestyle recognition their professional credentials deserve.
To explore which destinations offer the highest earning potential and strongest benefit packages, check out our detailed breakdown on which countries pay the most for teaching abroad.
The Department for Education's National Behaviour Survey reveals that teachers report losing an average of seven minutes for every 30 minutes of lesson time due to low-level pupil disruption. It's a common feature of the British classroom that teachers frequently find themselves trying to navigate – ensuring discipline alongside teaching the subjects they need to teach.
Moving to an international school means being introduced to a different type of classroom dynamic. Because international schools are typically fee-paying or selective, students arrive motivated, supported by parents and ready to learn. Classroom disruption drops dramatically. Survey data from the National Education Union (NEU) shows that 31% of independent and private school teachers report that pupil behaviour rarely or never negatively impacts their lessons, compared to just 8% in UK state schools.
Beyond classroom management, British teachers moving to regions across Asia and the Middle East experience a profound shift in social status. In these cultures, education is considered a highly respected profession, and teachers are held in high esteem by parents, students and local people alike. Teachers typically find themselves working with supportive families who value their professional expertise, restoring the sense of respect and vocational pride that drew them to teaching in the first place.
Tightened school budgets across the UK have taken a heavy toll on resources, subject funding and extra-curricular provision. From outdated IT infrastructure and underfunded science labs to cancelled educational trips and slashed Continuous Professional Development (CPD) budgets, UK teachers are frequently stretched for resources. At the same time, career advancement within state schools can feel restricted or tied almost exclusively to leadership roles that often mean a greater focus on administration or management, pushing teachers away from day-to-day classroom roles.
By contrast, many leading and reputable international schools operate in a competitive global marketplace where outstanding facilities and highly qualified staff are one of their key 'selling' points to attract students. British teachers stepping into international classrooms often find resources that rival elite universities, such as up-to-date science laboratories, dedicated performing arts studios, large swimming pools, access to the latest technologies and substantial budgets for classroom learning materials.
Crucially, international schools invest heavily in teachers' CPD. Many schools offer fully funded international curriculum training (such as the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Assessment), as well as attendance at conferences and sponsoring specialised certifications if teachers want to take them.
Because the international education sector is expanding so quickly, capable UK-trained teachers are in high demand, and many in international roles find that career progression is far quicker than back home. Qualified teachers are frequently given opportunities and pathways into middle and senior leadership roles likes departmental leads or curriculum coordinators much earlier in their careers than would be possible in the UK system.
Transitioning from a UK classroom to an international school shouldn't feel daunting or unachievable. For qualified teachers leaving their jobs in the UK, international schools offer a clear, established route to enhance your career without stepping away from the profession entirely.
While living overseas requires adapting to new cultural norms, local cuisines and different regulations and rules, the professional transition is smooth because British qualifications are held in exceptionally high regard worldwide, and curriculums are pretty much the same. While visa regulations and school standards vary depending on the country, reputable international schools generally look for three core criteria when recruiting UK staff, which are as follows.
A recognised undergraduate degree is almost universally required to secure a work visa. In some countries it's mandatory. For secondary roles, having a degree that directly aligns with your teaching subject (such as mathematics, science or English) sets you apart from other candidates.
Holding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) via a PGCE or equivalent Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course gives UK candidates a significant competitive edge. International schools following the British national curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) actively seek UK-trained staff. While some entry-level roles exist for newly qualified teachers, many international schools prefer a minimum of two years of domestic teaching experience. It's also worth noting that if your goal is specifically teaching English as a foreign language rather than subject teaching, a specialised TEFL qualification is also standard.
Moving abroad for work is a big step, and you should prepare to experience some degree of culture shock, which is completely normal. Beyond the classroom and paperwork, hiring teams from international schools want teachers who demonstrate emotional intelligence, resilience and an open mindset. Being able to communicate effectively across diverse cultural backgrounds and showing a genuine willingness to adapt to your host country are often very positive attributes that win over interviewers.
Rather than sifting through endless unverified job listings independently, partnering with an established international recruitment agency like Teaching Abroad Direct can help UK teachers to search for a wide range of jobs and secure positions at accredited, reputable international schools that offer strong contract protections, housing support and welcoming expat communities. Tailored job boards also offer expert advice on visa requirements, what to expect from your move and insider knowledge on subjects like international pay structures. You can find out more about all kinds of topics on teaching abroad by reading our blog here. A dedicated agency also matches your specific teaching credentials and lifestyle preferences with vetted positions so you can make your move overseas with complete confidence – whether you'd rather have a slower pace and better work-life balance in Thailand, or want to experience the buzz of a bustling city like Dubai while making savings on tax-free income. Why not browse our international teaching jobs board here.
Of course! Whether you're a qualified teacher looking to move to an international school or are considering a TEFL certification to teach English overseas, moving abroad offers a life-changing chance to rebuild or revive your teaching career. It looks great on a CV, and provides an ideal mix of structure and a stable daily routine, paired with the freedom, disposable income and generous time off needed to explore new cultures and travel the world.
Living and working overseas also brings undeniable personal and professional rewards. Beyond the immediate financial benefits (such as tax-free earnings in regions like the Middle East or low living costs across Asia), teaching abroad allows you to become part of a local community rather than passing through as a tourist. Being a teacher in an international classroom also sharpens your leadership skills, makes you more adaptable and creates transferable skills while instilling a deep sense of personal independence.
It's important to approach the transition with realistic expectations. Teaching abroad isn't like going on holiday. Teachers in other schools around the world still face real professional responsibilities, deadlines and lesson preparation just like teachers in the UK. You'll also need to adjust to new workplace cultures, different management styles and language barriers, living away from family and friends and settling into a different lifestyle. If you can navigate these things confidently, taking your teaching credentials overseas allows you to step out of your comfort zone, gain an invaluable global perspective and reclaim the genuine joy of teaching.
At Teaching Abroad Direct, we help UK teachers secure jobs in international schools around the world.
Visit www.teachingabroaddirect.co.uk to learn more about teaching opportunities overseas.
Teaching Abroad Direct regularly speaks with British teachers currently working overseas.
Journalists interested in speaking with teachers currently working in other countries can contact us via [email protected]
