The lowdown on schools in Gran Canaria
Lowdown on Schools - a comprehensive unbiased guide to all the English
speaking schools in Gran Canaria. Canterbury School, Oakley College, the
British School of Gran Canaria, Kent College, The American School of
Gran Canaria, Colegio Arenas, Colegio Hispano Ingles and many others.
If you are looking for a job in a school there are three types of school to apply to
English / American Schools
Bilingual Spanish schools
Spanish private schools
Have a look at our guides to each school before yo udecide where to apply. If you have any personal experience please add a comment at the end of the page.
English Schools
These schools teach using the UK national Curriculum and generally have mostly English staff. Most schools require a PGCE but it has been known for unqualified teachers to work there. To supply teach a PGCE is generally is not required as they are so desperate to get a teacher.
Oakley College
This is an Infant, Primary and Secondary School in Tafira Alta. The director’s name is Donat Morgan and the website is www.oakleycollege.com. They recruit from January to March for jobs starting the following September. Telephone 928354247. Please check the comments below and forums for more information on Oakley.
Canterbury School
Canterbury is the biggest English school in Gran Canaria with an Infant department in Las Palmas, a primary and secondary in Tamaraceite and a school in the South in Maspalomas. It also has a good reputation as a school and employer. The director is Beryl Pritchard and the website is www.canterbury-school.com . telephone 928 43 98 10
The British School of Gran Canaria
Located in Tafira Baja the British School is the oldest British School in Gran Canaria. It’s staff are older than in Oakley and Canterbury and less jobs become available on a yearly basis. However it is a good employer and offers a good education. www.bs-gc.net. Telephone: 928351167
Kent College
Located in the University, it is mainly a primary school with only KS3 in secondary. It is a small school which has a large primary department and a very small secondary. We have had mixed reports about this school, please check out the comments below.
Web http://kentcollege.net/ telephone 928350093
American school
The American school, logically, follows the American education system. It mainly employees American teachers, but other nationalities have often worked there especially as supply and Saturday school teachers. Web www.aslp.org tel: 928430023
Bilingual Schools
There are a couple of these and none are particularly good. There have been various horror stories from Colegio Arenas and Hispano Ingles but some teachers stay there for many years so they can’t be that bad. They do however have quite a high staff turnover so jobs can be easy to find.
Colegio Arenas – Siete Palmas, Arucas, Playa de Inglés
In 2002, they went through 8 English teachers, in 2006 the English teacher left after 2 weeks and not many people have a good word to say about working there. Kids are OK but you’re pretty much left on your own once you arrive. Primary is better than secondary but Secondary is where the jobs tend to turn up. Before accepting a job here, speak to some of the current employees.
Hispano Inglés – Las Palmas, Tafira
Heidelberg – Bilingual German / Spanish School
Good reputation but not many job opportunities
Spanish private schools which employ English Teachers occasionally
Garoe / Guaydil (Tafira Alta)
V.good reputation
www.garoe.com
Telephone 928355000
Sagrado Corazón – Tafira Baja
Religious School with quite a good reputation
Salesianos (Las Palmas)
www.salesianos-laspalmas.com
Claret (Las Palmas)
Good school but big classes
Juan Ramón Jiménez (Tafira Alta)
www.colegiojuanramonjimenez.com
La Higuerita
Primary school in Marzagan with English head (Pam Ainsworth) and English teachers – very good reputation.
Telephone: 928 715 847
Jaime Balmes (Tafira Alta)
Tlf: 928 351 000
If you have any personal experience of any of these schools please leave comments below.
Working at Kent College
I worked at Kent College for 5 years and was very proud to do so. Yes it is small, but that is part of its attraction. Because of its size, you can tailor your lessons to suit each child's individual needs and there is a strong family type atmosphere. The staff are very close and are eager to help each other and the children are very polite, happy and eager to learn. The Head is devoted to the school and likes to get involved in teaching the children. She is a good boss and always treated me well. I would strongly advise anyone who cares about the true sense of teaching to apply to work at Kent College (you will need a PGCE).If you are wondering about sending your children there, absolutely!!!
Oakley College
I used to teach here and definitely would not go back. If you are a teacher thinking of going here I'd strongly think about applying for the other schools. If you are thinking of sending your children here be aware that the teachers don't stay very long here.
Kent College
If you are thinking about working at Kent, be very careful. It has a very bad reputation for employment. Make sure you sign a contract if you get offered a job and prepare for the worst, you will probably have to teach all subjects, have no free periods and be subject to regular timetable changes. Beware.