International schools provide special education for expatriate children around the world. While most parents have to pay school fees, one of the conditions almost always included in international teacher contracts is free education for teaching children. There are more than 4000 international schools worldwide, all of which require teachers to hire them, and many of them offer high-quality individual education.

There are several different types of international schools to choose from, and some are managed by a board of directors and not designed for profit. In contrast, an individual or company runs others for benefit.

As a teacher, you will be concerned that the educational school philosophy is consistent with yours. As a parent, you want to make sure that educating your children is a school priority, rather than the amount of money spent on educational materials and the impact it will have on the profit of the school owner.

There are some principals or owners of international schools who may be more interested in the financial benefits of school management than the educational benefits of students. Be aware, as a potential employee and as a parent.

International schools can become accredited by an organization that sets educational and operational standards for international education institutions.

If the international school is accredited, you can be confident that the quality of education provided by the school is high. Most schools accredited by an organization like EITP which is a Pearson Edexcel lower secondary programme advertise them on their webpage, brochures and stationery.

This is of particular concern for parents of children of high school age as the number of students in school may affect the amount of material options offered at higher levels. This can often affect both for-profit and not-for-profit schools.

Also, the number of students in a school can influence the amount and type of extracurricular activities offered, and thus your child’s opportunities to try out team sports and other activities that are usually performed after school.

When the school has a large number of students, this can also mean that the school probably has a well-equipped library, well-equipped laboratories, modern computers and outdoor activity areas. This usually applies to larger schools since there is more money to fund these facilities.

On the other hand, a school with thousands of students, while offering a variety of materials and activities to students usually can be an unknown place for children. It is up to you to decide what is the right balance for you and your family.

You can find international schools that run national curricula. Securing a teaching contract at an international school that offers national curricula that you and your children use will facilitate the transition. However, you are not limited to the curricula that you have taught in the past, international schools generally search for good teachers and realize that teachers can adapt and teach any curriculum.