Articles on Teaching though Southern Alps Recruitment

A Kiwi in Surrey

by Rachel Anderson - New Zealand

In 2002 I was flicking through the paper one day and came across the "Teach in UK" ad. As I was looking at heading over to the UK in 2003 I decided to give them a ring. From the first time of contact the people at Southern Alps were nothing but helpful to me. They were able to answer all of my questions and gave me information to help sort out the Job application process and forms to enable things to progress smoothly./p>

One of my reasons for heading overseas was to work at a USA summer camp, which I had been told by friends that was a highlight of any O.E. As I was leaving NZ some 4 months before I planned to enter the UK I had to have the forms completed and in to Oli before I left. My father was a good help as he managed to tie up loose ends after I departed. Ever since then I have had only e-mail contact with Southern Alps.

While at camp I was offered a job in Surrey, England. The job as a result of calls and e-mails and by mutual agreement with the school I started as soon as I walked of the plane.

I have been in Surrey now for one year. The staff at the school have been so supportive and willing to help a “Kiwi Teacher” at a drop of the hat, it’s great. It has been challenging to get a grip on the UK systems but after a while things became more familiar. The world cup was an interesting few weeks. And man did I get it when the English Team won.

The department I am in (Design Technology) had just been refurbished. It is really nice to have a fresh new building, with new equipment and facilities. You hear all these stories of the kids over here been right little so and so’s but really they are no different than the ones at home. (I was teaching in a school in Auckland before I left).

So I am now in for round two. School heads back on the 2nd of September and after having five and half weeks off travelling around Europe and the UK the sound of work doesn’t go down to well. I would have to say a big thank you to Oli and his staff for finding me this position in Surrey.

If you are looking for a UK teaching placement then I fully recommend Oli and his team at Southern Alps

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