By role
21 agencies in the directory say they recruit school leaders for international schools, including FlyTeachers, Perrett Laver (Global Schools Practice) and chk Education.
Leadership recruitment abroad works differently from classroom hiring. Heads and principals are often placed through board-led searches, and many candidates are approached rather than applying cold. Middle and senior leaders, by contrast, are more likely to be found through ordinary vacancy channels.
If you hold or want to hold a leadership post in an international school, the question is which qualifications and records of impact that school's governors will read.
GOV.UK lists leadership NPQs for SENCOs, senior leadership, headship, executive leadership and early years leadership, and specialist NPQs for leading teaching and behaviour and culture. Courses last between 12 and 22 months. The headship NPQ takes 18 months and is aimed at people who are, or want to be, a headteacher.
Schools overseas do not have to ask for them. Their value is that British-style schools, and boards that recruit from the English system, recognise the names.
British Schools Overseas are inspected every three years by approved inspectorates, and the Department for Education publishes the latest report for each accredited school. A leader who has taken a school through that inspection holds evidence that boards can read.
Look at a school's own report before you accept an interview: it shows how the previous leadership was judged against standards that GOV.UK says are comparable to those used for independent schools in England.
COBIS says it represents more than 400 schools and organisations, with 350 member schools. Regional bodies listed by GOV.UK as supporting British schools overseas include BSME, FOBISIA, NABSS and the Latin American Heads Conference. Membership of these networks is a signal of what the board expects its head to attend and contribute to.
Recruitment agency · London, United Kingdom
Recruiter for international school teaching roles; candidates create a free account to apply
Search firm / recruitment fairs
Advises international schools on Head, Principal and senior leadership appointments
Recruitment agency
Specialist recruitment service connecting international schools with experienced educators and leaders
Recruitment agency · Bridge of Weir, United Kingdom
Recruits teachers for international schools, primarily in the Middle East and also East Asia, Australasia, Europe and North Africa
Recruitment agency
Recruits teachers and school leaders for international schools; site states candidates placed in Europe, Middle East, Asia and South America/Caribbean
Recruitment agency · Ottawa, Canada
Places teachers in schools in the Middle East and Asia, many on British or American curricula
Search firm / recruitment fairs · London, United Kingdom
Recruits school leaders (Head, Principal, Director) for international schools
Recruitment agency · Holywood, United Kingdom
Recruits teachers and school leaders for international schools in the UAE and wider GCC
Recruitment agency · York, United Kingdom
Connects teachers with international schools across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean
Recruitment agency
Places English-speaking qualified primary and secondary teachers in international schools
Recruitment agency · United Kingdom
Places teachers and leaders in schools across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the wider UAE
Search firm / recruitment fairs · United Kingdom
Leadership search for international schools: Heads, Principals, Bursars and Directors of Education
Recruitment agency · Melbourne, Australia
Connects international schools with educators from executive leaders to early childhood specialists
Search firm / recruitment fairs · London, United Kingdom
Education recruiter with an international leadership appointments practice
Job board · London, United Kingdom
UK job board for teachers looking to work abroad, covering all continents
Recruitment agency
Set up in 2005 by former international school educators to help teachers and leaders find posts in international schools
Recruitment agency
International recruitment and placement service for permanent teaching and administrative roles at international schools
Search firm / recruitment fairs · London, United Kingdom
UK schools executive search firm with an international schools sector page
Search firm / recruitment fairs · Letchworth Garden City, United Kingdom
Executive search firm recruiting Headteachers, Principals and senior leadership teams for UK and international schools
Recruitment agency · Wareham, United Kingdom
International teacher recruiters serving British and international schools
Search firm / recruitment fairs
Retained search firm for independent and international schools: head of school and senior administrator searches
Not as a rule. Governing bodies set their own criteria. The NPQ is an English qualification and some boards value it, particularly for British-style schools.
Ask for evidence of whole-school responsibility, such as curriculum, safeguarding or inspection leadership, and consider the senior leadership NPQ as structured preparation.
Some are, many are handled through search firms or networks. Register with the agencies that specialise in leaders and let them know your target regions.