UK Primary Teacher & ECE - UK vs NZ job hunting!

[SOJ]

Hi!

After days reading lots on here and now confusing myself more thought I better just ask! Sorry its a long one!

Myself and husband are wanting to come live and teach in NZ. We spent a gap year in NZ a few years ago and loved it! We started the process to stay as NZQA converted my degree for ECE and it was on the shortage list but I was offered a job if I had a visa, but couldn't get a visa without a job offer! As it was all very last minute and rushed and we didn't really have enough money for the process, we decided to come home. Since then, we both have completed a PGCE, got a few of years experience under our belts and saving - with the vision to come back to NZ!

However I feel we are in the same position, as from what I have read we will struggle to get a job offer without a visa but don't have enough points to get a visa without a job offer, and with it no longer on the Shortage List it will be even harder. We are thinking of leaving our jobs next July, (end of the UK school year so will get a further 2 months pay) then come out on a tourist visa (with all the NZQA, medical, police check and teacher council registration done) which will give us 6 months to try and find a jobs - hopefully before the new academic year starting in January. I am aware of the couple of agencies available and will register with them but don't want to just rely on them. I want to know if it is wise to come out without a job offer or am I just going to be throwing my money anyway! I have been dreaming about doing this and saving for years and just want to make sure this time we do it right!

Any advise/ own experience/ tips would be gratefully received!
Thanks

[G-Mo]

The reality is, there is currently a surplus of teachers (especially primary) in NZ at the moment.

Many teachers have to volunteer for years without pay while waiting for an opening to come up... it's all about building relationships and familiarity and then who you know.

My son's primary school recently filled a position when a teacher retired. The person who filled the position had been volunteering and doing some occasional paid cover at the school for about 4 or 5 years, supplementing their income with out of ours cleaning and other miscellaneous jobs waiting for a teaching position to open up... My wife is an ex-teacher and familiar with people in the system still, and I understand this to be the norm (not the exception), especially in larger population areas.

Here is the INZ skills shortage list checker for Primary School Teacher:
http://skillshortages.immigration.go...chool-teacher/

I wouldn't recommend quitting your jobs to come here and hope you get an offer... perhaps come for the winter (your summer) and see if there is any interest, but at this point (from what I'm lead to understand)
I wouldn't walk away from jobs, because the industry here is tight and chances low, and then what?

[Carey]

Keep an eye on the Education Gazette , http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/Vacancies/
You can also subscribe for them to send you new vacancies by email in the areas and age groups you are interested in, which is useful.

I agree with G-Mo that it can be who you know, not what you know to get a foot in the door but it may be possible to get a job here by applying or at least contacting schools from UK and then actually coming here. Volunteering is a good way in, if you can afford to, meeting with Principals and asking their advice on your C V is usually ok.

Are you bound by going to particular areas of NZ because if not, there are places where it is probably more likely that you would be snapped up. British teachers have a good reputation here. Having your teacher registration in place is a good thing.

New Entrant teachers are quite specialist here so if you have experience with 5/6 year olds, you have a better chance for primary schools and Early Childhood Centres, ( although I think you need the post grad. Diploma in ECE now to be employed in ECE).

Good luck!

[SOJ]

Thanks for your help/advice!


To register with the teacher council we will have to get our employers to give us references and I really don't want to mess them about, would rather leave on good terms. Its slightly awkward as the terms are different and that coupled with the notice period we have to give here could hinder our chances of securing a NZ job is we have to work to end of a term here. It would same a waste of money to come out for the UK summer to come back to UK to leave again. We are willing to go anywhere just to get into the country then after a year or two actually move to where we want to be. Where would you suggest is our best chances? My husband is older primary but I am both ECE and primary so I will probs go more towards ECE so we aren't competing for the same jobs!

I am open to us not getting jobs straight away and am willing to volunteer but just wondering whether within the 6 month tourist visa we would be likely to secure jobs at all? I have read on another website that the immigration system is just a way of NZ making money and that is nee impossible to actually get jobs! This is what terrifies me has I have already once started this process and spend a lot of money and really don't want to waste my money and time again getting all the documents etc if the chances of UK teacher getting jobs are few and far between!

Thanks for your advice!

[NDMLP]

Hi, I am a primary school teacher with 4 year degree in education with qualified teacher status....when I click on the skills list link it gives a green tick and says primary teachers are on the list but this post suggests they are not. I am very confused??! please advise if possible? I was planning on moving to NZ with my family and now it seems this may be an impossible dream? Thankyou.

[JandM]

It's on the list of skilled occupations. http://skillshortages.immigration.go...chool-teacher/ That means that "if you have enough points and meet the requirements then you may be eligible to apply for a Resident Visa under the Skilled Migrant Category," and having enough points for most people means they need to have a job offer from a NZ employer.

It is not on the LTSSL (long term skills shortage list), which opens the door to bonus points, and those usually make the difference so a person would not need a job offer to make the minimum points level to be selected.

[NDMLP]

OK, thank you. Without filling in the teacher registration form and paying does anyone know if they accept a BA degree in primary education with Qualified teacher status WITHOUT honours?? I can only find a new Zealand number to call to clarify this direct with the teaching council. I don't want to waste money and time if someone knows straight away that my degree is not enough? Thankyou in advance