Planning on teaching in England but not sure what the go is?

Planning on teaching in England but not sure

what the go is?

COVID-19 has thrown a spanner in the works for many teachers seeking to relocate and teach in England for 2020.

Shall I stay?  Shall I go?

We just wanted to share some important updates and links for prospective international teachers seeking to get their career launched in England.

Arriving in the UK has changed since COVID-19. There are still flights available, but you will be expected to adhere to 14 days of isolation after you land. The official guidance can be found here. These new rules will come into effect from the 8^th June to guard against the second wave of Coronavirus outbreaks.

Boris Johnson has announced that Primary Schools will re-open from the 1^st of June. Schools are currently preparing to return after the May half-term break. Initially, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 Students will be returning under the new guidelines. It’s possible we will see Year 10 and 12 Students return to Secondary around June the 15^th. It appears that many logistics regarding how to travel to school and how to test staff and children are still being discussed. The latest release on the government website can be found here.

Most teachers travelling to England under the age of 31 will require a Tier 5 visa and those on School Sponsorship require a Tier 2 visa (with a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by the hiring School). There are a range of exemptions and changes available to those that were already processing visas when authorities closed. We are yet to hear when Visa Application Centres (VAC) will reopen but we do know you can look up your nearest centre and check its opening times and dates by following these links:

• TLS contact if you’re in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East
• VFS global for all other countries

What does this mean for you and your plans to travel and teach?

If you are a teacher who intends on relocating as soon as the border and visa restrictions lift, we suggest you use this time to prepare a show stopper CV and cover letter, save your money and practice your interview skills (it is pretty much 100% guaranteed you will be doing a digital interview for your next new job). You can find tips and strategies for digital interviews on our recent blog post.

We advise you to register with Point to Point and get your application underway so you are ready to be proactive and prepared for job opportunities once international travel resumes.

Your European travel plans might need a little re-thinking for this summer! Most UK based teachers are looking at domestic travel holidays this year and are being hopeful that Summer 2021 will be a goodie!

Always check the World Health Organisation updates for the most up to date Travel Advice.

Useful links:

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.
• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

UK Domestic Travel Ideas – get amongst the outdoors!

• Complete the 3 Peaks Ben Nevis,  Scafell Pike and Snowdon
• Head to the South West Coast and visit Cornwall
• Explore the Seven Sisters Country Park and region
• Unlimited walks and idyllic destinations are to be explored in the Lake District