The Cost of living
Before you arrive in the UK it is advisable to understand the purchasing value of your currency. Savings can disappear quickly in an expensive country when you are spending the Dollar or Rand.
As a general rule you should overestimate rather than underestimate the cost of living in the United Kingdom, especially in the first couple of weeks.
It is almost impossible to state average entertainment costs due to people’s varying social appetites. The central night spots are very expensive and if you are on a tight budget these are best viewed from the outside.
There is a wide variety of food available but we would recommend doing weekly shopping in the supermarkets rather than more expensive smaller stores. It is difficult to give an estimate of the cost of weekly shopping due to the vagaries of individual preference.
Opening a bank account
Opening an account can be time consuming in the UK, and especially so in London. Some branches are relaxed, while others take bureaucracy to the extreme.
You’ll need as much ID as you can get your hands on, including your passport, proof of your UK address, credit card statements and a letter from your bank/s at home.
Some UK banks may have affiliations with your home bank. Find out beforehand from your bank if one exists as this can speed up the process when you get here.
To help you along Capita will supply you with a letter that describes your proof of employment and we have an affiliation with the Lloyds World Wide Service.
Teacher networking, courses and parties
Once you are in the UK, there will be opportunities to link up with the other teachers who have come over in the form of a Networking Group.
These are small, informal meetings where we cover topics such as; your schools; classroom teaching/ management; lesson planning; pupils; travel in the UK and abroad; what’s happening back home; living in London (settling in, transport, weather, social aspects, shopping, sports, recreation etc.)
There will be teacher courses offered on the subjects of Literacy Hour, Numeracy hour, Challenging Behaviour in the Classroom and Special Educational Needs Teaching.
Every term Capita Education offers a lively, themed ‘Teacher Party’ (usually fancy dress) where you can meet up with other teachers in a social environment |
