Job Discussion Forums

[Iamherebecause]

Maybe Snawbar is on the way down rather than up. I have had colleagues and friends who sent their children there - some US citizens, some expatriate Arabs, some families with one Arab parent and one British or US. But now that I think about it I don't know of anyone who has a child there NOW. There definitely used to be Western trained staff too, I knew 2 personally including a very dynamic head of primary but they have both moved on. And the last student I taught who studied there left the school 3 years ago.

Sorry to give advice that might be a bit out of date!

[The expat parent]

AAESS is barely adequate. I have heard it said by UK teachers that it would be closed down were it in the UK.

Yes, the staff are qualified but most are not especially happy. Primary has lost it's head and deputy head, all it's year 6 staff as well as the majority of those who signed on as eager enthusiastic recruits two years ago. It is generally not a happy place to work - having helped out there fromtime to time, I have heard many arguments go on with the money grubbing management.

There is no curriculum in place, the number of subjects on offer is minimal no effective tracking of students and no discipline policy. Money is all and resources are scarce which teachers with remaining integrity supplement with money from their poor salaries. With no hope of a pay rise it is inevitable that morale saps when they find out what colleagues at Nord Anglia are on. Indeed, many end up using the revolving staff door and working there.

Sadly, it is still the only show in town for most western expat parents with Choifat seen as too rigid and ENS, well... too local.