Better teaching job than cowboy agency?

With a PGCE and real UK classroom time, you've got options the agencies would never tell you about. The easiest first move is to walk into the schools themselves, not just apply online. International schools in Bangkok are surprisingly open to a drop-in with a CV in hand, especially the smaller ones around Ekkamai or Thonglor where the head teacher is often on site. I've seen teachers skip the whole online black hole by politely asking for ten minutes with the deputy head, it works more often than you'd think.

Also, don't overlook the bilingual schools that aren't fully international but run British-style curricula, places like the ones on Ram Intra or near Srinakarin. They pay a bit less, maybe 80k to 100k, but they're desperate for people who actually know how to teach, and the retention is poor because they get agency castoffs. You'd walk in as the most qualified person on staff, which gives you real leverage to negotiate things like fewer contact hours or a better schedule. The flip side is you'll deal with Thai admin quirks and less polished resources, but the lack of agency toxicity makes up for it.

One more practical thing: check if your PGCE lets you register with the Teachers' Council of Thailand directly. It's a bureaucratic slog, but once you have that license, you're not hostage to any employer's sponsorship. That changes your bargaining position completely, because schools know you can leave without them pulling a visa

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yeah the search associates route is the move but also hit up the actual school websites directly. a lot of the smaller british schools post on tes.com too, that's how i found my current spot. the august hiring wave is real but there's always last minute dropouts in october and february, so keep ur cv updated even after term starts.

one thing nobody mentions is the thai teaching license thing. even international schools sometimes want u to have the w1 visa sorted, but if u get a job at a school with proper board approval they handle it. avoid the ones that try to put u on a tourist visa or the dodgy business visa route, that's how u end up in agency hell again.

also network at the british club or the teacher meetups at the pub near phrom phong, there's a decent group that meets thursdays. teachers talk, and a lot of openings never get posted anywhere. i landed a cover role that turned permanent just from chatting with someone at the bar. the decent schools pay around 100k to 130k baht a month with housing allowance, but the ones that pay 150k+ are usually the ones with the worst turnover, so don't chase the top number.

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the tes.com tip is solid but also check the ISC and COBIS job listings, those pop up before search associates sometimes. with your PGCE, you can also apply directly to the EP programs at big Thai schools like Chulalongkorn or Kasetsart, they love native speakers with real credentials and the workload is way lighter than the international circuit.

if you're set on staying in Bangkok, look at the non-profit schools like NIST or the American School, they have proper HR and won't pull the visa games. but honestly the mid-tier british schools in the suburbs (think around Bang Phli or Nonthaburi) are underrated, 90k to 110k with fewer politics and the kids are less entitled, which makes teaching actually enjoyable.

one thing the others missed: get your criminal background check and degree apostilled before you even interview, schools here move fast when they like you and that paperwork is the #1 delay. also check if your PGCE qualifies for the Thai teacher license via the teacher council, it's a pain but once it's done you're not tied to any single school's sponsorship.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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