How to Evaluate International School Teachers: Four Key Dimensions

How to Evaluate the Faculty at International Schools? Four Dimensions to Help You See Clearly

"Everyone says to look at the faculty, but what exactly should we look at?"
This is the question parents ask most frequently in recent consultations. The proportion of foreign teachers? Educational background? Or the introductions of famous teachers in the school's brochures?
Today, we will help parents clarify their thinking from four dimensions.

1. Look at Qualifications: Do Teachers Have the 'License to Teach'?
Many parents assume that foreign teachers automatically mean good teachers, but that's not necessarily true.
Teachers at high-quality international schools typically hold official certifications from the target curriculum system—IB teachers should have IB official training certificates, A-Level teachers should have certification from the Cambridge exam board. Foreign teachers should possess teaching qualifications from their home country, while Chinese teachers need domestic teaching qualifications and bilingual teaching abilities.
Certificates don't always represent ability, but the absence of certificates is likely problematic.

2. Look at Experience: How Many Years of Teaching and How Many Graduating Classes?
Experience is more tangible than academic qualifications.
A teacher who has taught IB for five years and one who has just started for a year have completely different classroom management skills and ability to anticipate student issues. You can ask the school: What is the average teaching experience of core course teachers? How many graduating classes have they led? Are the academic results of their students stable?
Of course, experience isn't just about years. Some teachers have long teaching careers but outdated methods, while some younger teachers are more enthusiastic. So besides teaching years, you can also inquire: Do teachers adjust their teaching methods based on student characteristics? Are they willing to provide extra tutoring after class?

3. Look at Stability: Is Teacher Turnover High?
This is a point many parents easily overlook.
If a class changes homeroom teachers three times in three years, children just adapt to one teacher's style and have to readjust again. Frequent teacher changes test both children's learning state and psychological well-being.
When choosing a school, you can ask the admissions staff: What is the approximate teacher turnover rate at the school over the past three years? What are the main reasons for leaving? High-quality schools often pride themselves on low turnover rates and are willing to share this data. If the other party is evasive, be cautious.

4. Look at Match: Is What Is Taught Aligned with What Is Learned?
This last dimension is often overlooked but particularly important.
Some schools have a high proportion of foreign teachers, but upon closer inspection, foreign teachers only teach physical education and art, while core subjects are all taught by Chinese teachers. Such a foreign teacher ratio offers limited help in improving children's English academic abilities.
A more ideal situation is: Foreign teachers deeply participate in teaching core subjects (mathematics, science, humanities), collaborating with Chinese teachers—one responsible for expanding thinking and language, the other for solidifying foundations and bridging cultures.
Additionally, you can pay attention to: Is the teacher's academic major aligned with the subject they teach? A history major teaching physics, no matter how strong, will struggle.

A Final Word
Here's a practical tip for parents: During school visits, try to chat with current students. "Do you like Teacher So-and-So's class? Why?" Children's feelings are often the most genuine.
When it comes to faculty, brochures are useless, and official websites are useless. What truly matters is to ask clearly and understand the above four dimensions.