Job Discussion Forums

JimJam · Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 69 Location: UK

Just saw a job on TEFL.com which pays �24,333 to be a senior teacher in central London.

Is that a reasonable aount of money. taxcalculator.co.uk says it's �1,559.50 per month. Can you live on that in London?

I can factor in �100pm for bills, same for council tax, and again for food but how much do you need to factor in for transport and rent?

Can anyone teaching in London at the moment give me some idea of these figures.

GriffinParka · Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 41 Location: West London

It's crap, but it's the norm.

Try another career, or go back abroad!

JimJam · Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 69 Location: UK

Thanks for the detailed insight GriffinParka.

Anyone else?

slapntickle · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 270

�24,000 would be enough to live on if you were living at home with mummy and daddy and they were paying the rent and all bills, but if not then forget it. To live - or should I say survive? - in central London, you'd probably need to be earning at least �35,000. Of course more would allow you to really start living.

Anyway, most TEFL teachers do not earn this, unless they move into management, which would mean a lot more work and responsibility. I think GriffinParka gets it right when he advises you to go back overseas.

BTW, is your �24,000 a gross or net figure? If it's gross, then you'd need to deduct around 24% for tax and NI. Now we're getting into the realm of the absurd.

reddevil79 · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:25 pm Post subject:

Hmm, I beg to differ. I lived in Central London a while back and earned quite a bit less than the figure quoted. Sure, you�re not going to live like a King, but it�s manageable.

Where in Central London are we talking? You could live just outside the centre, and catch the tube or bus in. London doesn�t necessarily mean being broke ALL the time; a lot of museums and galleries are free, loads of neat and affordable cafes/restaurants, and some of the best days I�ve had in London were just taking a picnic to a park with a bunch of mates, few drinks and many laughs. Mr. Green

Ah, summer, where did it go...

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

JimJam,

I can only presume you are talking about the job with Kaplan in Covent Garden.

Hundreds of thousands of people (not necessarily in EFL) work for 24,000 GB pounds or less in London. It can be done, though you will be counting your pennies. Covent Garden is in Zone 1,but it is virtually impossible to get accommodation in a flat alone in that zone on an EFL salary. You would be sharing.

If you can live in Zone 2, you would pay 2.50 GB pounds on an Oyster card on the Tube for each journey. Buses are cheaper. Check out the Transport for London website.

The big advantage of being in central London is that there are countless students wanting private lessons for IELTS/BMAT/LNAT/ general English.
Just advertise around the universities - you can double your salary.

I have and earn over 50,000 GB pounds a year.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

PC Parrot · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 6:10 am Post subject:

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Just to assure any lurking tax inspectors on this forum,P.C.Parrot, my tax returns are all totally up to date and correct (my brother is a tax inspector!)

As for "do you have a life?" Well, this week I've managed the Da Vinci exhibition at the National Gallery; the Degas and the Ballet at the Royal Academy; a concert with students at the Royal Festival Hall; cinema twice(Wuthering Heights) and (The Deep Blue Sea); concert at the Barbican.

I also teach 14 hours a week and have marked 12 research projects of 2,500 words...and I swim 50 lengths three times a week in the university pool.

What do you do, Perilla?

slapntickle · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 270