I made the decision: I was going to leave London. However, I did not really have a clear idea of where I wanted to go. All I knew is that I wanted a change. Change is always good - right?  

I knew there were plenty of well-established international schools dotted around the globe - but none of these really appealed to me. 

Not only that, but I felt as that they wouldn’t consider me, as my CV wasn’t quite right to apply for one of the bigger schools. They all wanted a certain number of years’ experience.  

The more I researched, the more I came to realise that the change I was seeking out needed to be something different. I wanted my international school to be somewhere off the beaten track.

A sub-Saharan search

After careful consideration, I made the decision that Africa was to be my chosen destination, but the issue was that I knew very little about the schools there.

I applied online via Tes for several jobs dotted all over the continent. I heard back from schools in Tanzania, Botswana, Nigeria and Namibia, but none really looked like what I was after. The last school to get back to me was a tiny preparatory school on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya.

It certainly wasn’t one of the more prestigious international schools. It had a roll call of just 144 children, and a website that didn’t really work. The school itself was several hours from the nearest town and a long and bumpy ride from Nairobi. 

I was curious but not convinced. However, all it took then was a phone call to the headmaster for me to know: this was the place for me.

So, why should you go off the beaten track? For me, these are the most compelling reasons to opt for somewhere a little different.

1. Increase your chances

There are thousands of options when it comes to starting your international teaching career, but certain regions tend to draw the biggest crowds. If you’re lacking in international experience, choosing a lesser-known school or location can help your CV reach the top of the pile.  

2. Avoid tourist traps

Working away from the mainstream tourist routes will give you something that few people will experience.

Working at my beautiful school enabled me to climb Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro, the two highest peaks in Africa. I led white-water rafting trips down the Sagana River and camel safaris in Laikipia, where we swam in dams overhung with flat-topped acacia trees.

I wouldn’t have had these opportunities had I been working in a larger school with a department that was designated to organising trips.

3. Build relationships

Being away from the expat communities gives you a chance to build a real relationship with the teachers at your school.

For me, being in such a small school has allowed me to create bonds with staff, pupils and parents alike. You really get to know everyone so well, their characteristics, their strengths and weaknesses and what makes them tick.

Parents are so approachable and friendly, unlike some larger schools where they are rarely seen. Here, parents take an active interest in the trips we ran and the experiences the children were able to access.

I would not have been able to experience any of this without taking the plunge into the lesser known. It was a gamble, but the experience is one that I know I will treasure for the rest of my life. 

Jim Ross is the director of sport at Brookhouse School in Kenya