Where are they now?
I worked with Aurelia for the 2018/2019 school year, at a school in Wembley as a first-year teacher. Coming from Alberta, Canada, I met so many Canadians, and got to experience a brand new educational environment that truly widened my perspective on teaching and expanded my worldview.
When asked to provide an update, it made me realise the opportunities Aurelia has provided me. I am currently in my fourth year of teaching and living in the United Kingdom (London). Specifically, these last three years of being an Aurelia mentor has also introduced me to wonderful teachers from across Canada, United States and the world.
I began teaching at a London primary school in September 2018 and I will be beginning my third year with the school this year. I’ve moved into a leadership position developing Art and Design & Technology programming for our school, which is something I’ve really enjoyed doing.
I am now in my 7th year in the UK - I completed my teaching degree at the University of the West of Scotland and then moved to Bradford, West Yorkshire to start my teaching career. I currently teach children with special educational needs at a SEN school in Huddersfield.
Jennifer is heading into her 5th year in the UK and 4th year at the same school. She originally moved to Nottingham in 2016 with Aurelia and is still teaching in a primary school there. We couldn’t be happier for her!
In 2017 Charlotte moved to Wembley, London to teach Science in one of our secondary schools. She taught with the same school for 3 years before returning to Canada. She is now looking forward to continuing her career with local boards. Any school will be lucky to have her!
After teaching in the UK through Aurelia Education for a year, I transitioned to working for the company as a recruitment consultant. I continued to work for Aurelia for 2 years, moving from consultant to practicum coordinator to operations manager. I left Aurelia in the summer of 2019 and began working as a teacher in a private school.
After teaching English in Wembley in the 2018-2019 school year, I returned to Toronto and began working on the supply lists for 2 independent schools in the city. I am now currently on an LTO contract for an independent school in Toronto, teaching History and Social Sciences for Intermediate and Senior Grades.
After having taught in England for two years with Aurelia Education, I moved back home to Hamilton, Ontario. A couple of months later, I applied for a teaching position up north in Moosonee, Ontario. Having experience teaching full-time in England really helped me to secure the job. I was praised by the superintendent for my qualifications and teaching experience. I was offered a full-time permanent position teaching kindergarten.
I remember when I walked into my Year 5 classroom for the first time in 2016. I was nervous yet excited, and very unsure of what to expect. However, the friends I made through Aurelia assured me everything would be alright! Without their guidance, support and love, I wouldn’t be where I am today!
In May 2019 my initial visa was expiring and I had some big decisions to make. I was given the choice of obtaining a work visa or to move on somewhere else. Teaching in England had become everything I had wanted and I had made a really close group of friends. But I had also been hearing from some of my former co-workers and friends who had made the move to Asia
Evan was one of the original Aurelia teachers from our first year as a company in 2014. Fast forward to 2020 and he is about to go into his 7th year as a teacher at the same school.
After teaching in England for 2 years with Aurelia Sam returned home to Ontario. Before supply teaching, she worked with Aurelia to support teachers who wanted to head overseas themselves. Sam has now had a permanent teaching position for two years and has since gotten married and added Kevin, a massive St Bernard, to her family.
It's been 3 years since arriving back in Canada after my time with Aurelia. The summer I returned I got onto the supply list. I spent one year supplying with short LTOs here and there, then 2 years in full year LTOs. This coming year I've landed a 1.0 permanent contract teaching grade 7!
2023/2024
…I would never have been able to make this transition on my own and am so thankful I took the chance with Aurelia. Their amazing team is one of a kind and I never felt like a number. They made this process as smooth as possible and continue to check in and support me regularly. They are truly a people business…
….Contact never stopped with the team once I arrived in the UK, and over time I have developed a great relationship with Julie, Allison, and Lauren. Additionally, on arrival to the UK I was introduced to many other Canadian teachers who have had similar positive experiences with Aurelia and I was quick to settle in and call England my new home. ..
…This new role that was brought to my attention ticked off everything on my list that I could have wanted in a school. I could see myself in this school for as long as they’ll have me as I don’t plan to go anywhere. The staff are so welcoming, there is an abundance of resources that I can use and most of all the support within the school for a first-time teacher is amazing and more than I could ever ask for…
2022/2023
…Through the most difficult patches I knew I could trust their guidance and it's really comforting to know you have someone in your corner that has done this before. Aurelia was always there for the successes, as well, and helped make me feel excited for and capable of teaching in the UK…
Aurelia has been the catalyst to my career and my life in London. I found the company when I was studying in Scotland via the CANTEACH program and unsure of my next steps; Aurelia laid those steps out in a perfect package…
…I'm happy to say I will be here for at least another year thanks to Aurelia and will be spending it with some teachers in other areas of London they connected me with that have become great friends. It has been a wonderful experience so far and I am looking forward to my next year in the UK thanks to Aurelia…
I joined the Aurelia Education team as a primary teacher in October 2022 after switching from a previous different agency and it was the best decision I had made within my teaching career. ..
…I am truly astounded that I have received so much support and care from Aurelia throughout the year. Whether it be general check ins, connecting me with other Canadians, or just representing me to my school, I have been so grateful for all of their help…
2021/2022
I am delighted to share my heartfelt testimonial for Aurelia Education and their exceptional recruitment service. As an educator who was searching for the perfect teaching position, I had the privilege of experiencing their unparalleled expertise and unwavering commitment to finding the best fit for me…
I started my journey with Aurelia in 2019. I knew I wanted to teach abroad after having the incredible opportunity of teaching in Kenya. My experience teaching in the UK has been amazing and very challenging! I’m very happy I chose Aurelia because they helped me secure my dream position at a lovely school where I truly excel…
When Aurelia helped me secure a position just outside London, it was with a school they had never worked with before and I was afraid of being completely lost as the only Canadian there. This was not the case at all! Aurelia was incredibly accommodating and assured me that they only work with the most supportive schools…
I am entering my second year of teaching Special Education at an SEN school just outside of London that Aurelia had helped me find a position at. Making the decision to pack up my life and move from Ontario, Canada to London was a nerve-racking, terrifying and exciting decision that I would have never been able to do without the Aurelia team…
2020/2021
I am in my second year of teaching Special Education at the same school that Aurelia had originally helped me find a position at. I never would have thought that I would be teaching special needs, but Aurelia was able to arrange virtual meetings for me to chat with Special Education teachers to give me a better idea of what the job might look like…
I began working with Aurelia in December 2020 after deciding to teach in London and consulting with a few different overseas teaching companies. Aurelia quickly became the obvious choice for their caring and professional nature and their clear investment in me as a teacher. Teaching overseas has been challenging but just as rewarding, providing me with experiences that will support me in my future classrooms and teaching experiences…
Moving to England to teach abroad was something that I always looked forward to doing post-graduation, and Aurelia really helped turn that into a reality for me. The close-knit team at Aurelia helped me through the entire process, from start to finish. I’m currently in my second year of teaching English at a secondary school just outside of London, and it is a perfect match for me! I have met so many amazing and like-minded people in such a short amount of time…
In September 2020 I began working as a PE Teacher at a London Primary School, and have just begun my second year with the school. I have really valued the opportunity to work as a PE specialist immediately upon graduating from university in Canada and have also thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to teach all Year Groups throughout the school…
2019/2020
During my school’s career fair, I stopped by as many overseas recruiting agencies as I could so I would be able to find the right fit. I attended an information session with Lauren where I was relieved to hear of both the positives about moving to and working in the UK and some of her struggles along the way – this made me realize that this agency would be honest about the whole process, not just the fun bits!
Going into the Lakehead job fair, my partner and I had our minds set on going to Japan. On my way to the Japan table, I walked by Lindsay (from Aurelia) who quickly asked “Interested in the UK?” I responded still slightly walking, “No sorry hoping for Japan.”
My partner and I decided that we were interested in teaching abroad so we started reaching out to various teaching companies. Very quickly, we found Aurelia and knew that they were the company for us! The Aurelia team was extremely friendly and made our transition to the UK so easy.
When deciding to go to the UK I knew that the agency was going to be the most important part. I had never been to Europe, so there was a lot I wouldn’t know or fully understand. Aurelia was the perfect fit for me. They were supportive without being overbearing.
I’ve always wanted to come to the UK ever since I was young, but I never knew what to do or how to get there, not even where to begin looking for the information. Aurelia thoroughly helped me with the process - between getting my job, my visa, getting settled in the UK and keeping me in touch with others within their community so I never felt alone for even a second.
2018/2019
I had a great time during my practicum with Aurelia! They made the process of getting to the U.K simple and digestible, and once I was over I felt like I wasn’t forgotten. Aurelia was nothing but supportive throughout the practicum…
Aurelia really makes sure everything is set in stone before and after you get to the U.K. Whether it's the challenging moments or celebrating amazing moments, the community is always there for you no matter what the situation or role you find yourself in. There is always someone to talk too in the community, all you need to do is ask for help, and someone will be there for you.
Making the decision to move to England was the best decision I ever made in regards to my career. Having Aurelia help and support me along the way with transitioning to England has definitely been helpful. Unlike other agencies, Aurelia has continued to support and follow up even after the move.
Life is full of small decisions that have large impact. Rarely do our choices make the splash that we assume, however my decision to join Aurelia over other agencies has been one of the best of my life. The opportunity to not only move to another country and have my own classroom, but to also be supported every step of the way has me never looking back.
My first experience with Aurelia took place when I completed my final University placement in the UK. Aurelia worked with me to set up my interview with the school, to arrange accommodation, to connect with other Aurelia teachers…
The process of starting a teaching career overseas was made very easy by Aurelia. From meeting with me around my schedule and helping me get easily settled in England, to making sure I was happy in my teaching role. Aurelia are clearly passionate about helping teachers be successful in their role abroad as well as have a positive experience living and travelling around the UK.
I always knew I wanted to teach abroad after graduating university, I just didn’t know how to get there. I still remember seeing the Aurelia booth outside of my lecture hall in teacher’s college. From the moment, I spoke to the Aurelia representatives, I knew this was a company I could trust to take care of me.
2017/2018
Coming to teach in England is a significant decision, especially when starting your professional teaching career. You will have to deal with various challenges and obstacles along that path including a new lifestyle, education system, and the transition from the established to the unknown. These various challenges, both professional and personal, will be challenging but Aurelia Education was supportive and helpful through it all.
Aurelia Education helped make my transition to the U.K. from Canada much easier. They helped me with the visa process and all other documentation needed to get to the U.K and answered every question I had about paperwork. Lauren made time to chat whenever I had any questions, concerns or worries.
I originally found Aurelia through a friend who came over to teach a year before I did. I was drawn to this company over others because of her great experience, and the fact that Aurelia is a lot smaller than most and therefore there is a greater feeling of community.
When I was in my last year of university I was really unsure of what direction my life and career was going to go in. By chance I happened upon Aurelia’s presentation about teaching in the UK. Right away I felt like family. Aurelia was a company who knew and cared about the teachers who worked for them. They talked a lot about their Canadian community overseas and the ability to travel, which really appealed to me.
2016/2017
The decision to move to the Uk to teach was an extremely difficult one for me. At school I was bombarded with different agencies for UK teaching, as well as debating whether or not to teach at an international school. I went to countless presentations and meetings trying to find the right fit. When I went to Aurelia’s presentation something just felt right.
I can barely believe that I have now been living and working in the UK for two years! I have been able to experience so much since moving here and tick off quite a few places I have always wanted to see, plus ones I didn’t even know I wanted to. Lauren and Julie were able to put me at ease by quickly providing me with well-informed answers and connecting me with people already in the UK that made me feel confident in my choice.
After feeling discouraged that I probably wouldn’t be able to get a job in Ontario straight after Teachers College (I don’t speak French), I decided to look into teaching internationally. This, as it turns out, was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. From the start, Aurelia felt like a family. My thoughts and feelings were always put first, and I always felt supported.
I originally came to the UK to do my teacher's training. After falling in love with the UK I decided to stay and work here and Aurelia made that possible. Aurelia supported me every step of the way, from picking what location in the UK fit my goals and aspirations through the Visa process and then settling into my new home. I can happily say I'm going on to my third year teaching in the UK and I don't think I would have had such a positive and stress-free experience if it wasn't for Aurelia.
When deciding to make the transition from my teacher training in Wales, to becoming a newly qualified teacher in the United Kingdom, Aurelia was my first point of contact I used to find a teaching position. After meeting Julie and having a few conversations with her, she recommended a role in London, England.
I came to England to teach after teaching for a year in Turkey. I chose to leave Turkey due to safety concerns, which meant I had to break my contract and sacrifice a reference. Julie was willing to take me on and was able to find me a position.
During my last year of my BEd my partner Erin and I decided we were interested in moving overseas to work and travel for a few years - but even then were uncertain where or how we were going to go about it all. Aurelia amongst many other teacher recruitment agencies visited my school presenting their offers throughout the year. Eventually, based on the presentations, my partner and I decided England was our best bet in getting suitable jobs and opportunities to travel, with the pound being what it was.
Hi, my name’s Lindsay. I started working in the UK September after completing my teaching degree at Queens University. Now I am a teacher in Year 7 and 8 Core (humanities) and English in Bradford. After researching what felt like hundreds of agency website, going to the countless university talks, and all the job fairs aimed towards teaching abroad in the UK, I made my decision to work with Aurelia. This is a decision that I have never regretted and will be forever happy I made.
I chose Aurelia because, compared to other recruitment agencies, it seemed more personal and approachable. Turns out, my initial impression was correct. From the get go, Julie and Lauren have been quick to offer advice, answer questions, and to take an interest in my life. They took the time to get to know me as a person and even matched me with a flat mate, another teacher, who they knew to have similar interests.
Hi everyone! My name is Logan and I'm from Southern Alberta. I recently went galavanting in England for 5 weeks and had the opportunity to check out my future school while I was there! I just wanted to give a shout out to Julie, who graciously took me in when I was beyond stressed (apparently it still can happen when you're on holiday), lifted my spirits, and made me beyond excited and confident about the next few years of my career.
2015/2016
My name is Liz and I worked for 2 years in a secondary school in West Yorkshire through Aurelia Education. Not only did I gain much needed experience and confidence in teaching, I also had the opportunity to participate in professional development and training, both through Aurelia and my school, and to travel throughout Europe.
My name is Erica and I spent two unforgettable years in England with Aurelia Education! Since teachers college, I wanted to travel the world and use teaching to do so. I didn't know which country I wanted to start with but I was quickly drawn to Aurelia through Julie's helpful and beyond caring personality.
My name is Francesca Cacchione and I have taught Nursery in Bradford for the past two years. Julie, from Aurelia Education, helped me find my job. I knew I wanted to teach abroad after I graduated from the B.Ed Program at Mount Saint Vincent University, but I wasn't sure where I wanted to teach. There are so many options available and I thought my decision would be very difficult.
My name is Brianne Dupuis and I have just completed 2 years teaching Year 3 in Bradford. I completed my teacher training in Scotland and knew I wasn't done traveling or living abroad! Aurelia was a great company to support me in my move to England.
As the plane descended into the airport my stomach was filled with knots. The constant thought of "Am I making a mistake?" kept flashing through my mind like a neon light. But with my parents sat beside me I couldn't help but pretend to be strong. Little did I know that I would not have to pretend for long. My very first 24 hours in Bradford was filled with meeting new Canadians, flat viewings and seeing all the best spots that the city had to offer!
Looking to teach in England? Aurelia is the agency you want to be a part of. Before making the decision to move to England, I was approached by many UK agencies, but Aurelia stuck out among them for the level of commitment that was made to make sure that I was looked after as an individual - before and after arrival.
I am currently teaching History at a Secondary school in the UK. Last year I was taking my Teachers College course and was put in contact with Julie and I can honestly say that this was my best choice yet. Julie has been attentive, caring, honest and overall amazing throughout this whole experience. My friend Jenna Moorhead and I were coming as a package deal and Julie took this very seriously when she was finding jobs for us.
I am currently a reception teacher in West Yorkshire, England. I graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Education focusing in Elementary Education. I began looking into teaching in the UK in the fall of 2014. I visited many presentations and was, to be honest, very unsure of Aurelia.
I first heard about Aurelia Education via Queen’s where we were introduced to a number of UK teaching agencies. I signed up for all of the webinars and information sessions with the all of companies. I liked the way that Aurelia made the effort to speak to me on an individual basis and get to know me not only as a teacher but as a person.
Coming to teach in England is a huge decision. You will have to deal with many different challenges along that path, and, as a result, choosing the right company to bring you over is so important. On the way to the classroom you will face obstacles both personal and professional. When I came over, I struggled with accommodation, adjusting to a new country, and adapting to a new and often confusing school system.
2014/2015
Aurelia has gone above and beyond their role as a recruiter from day one. They made the transition to life in the UK an easy process and were always there to answer any questions I had along the way. Julie set up a company that felt more like a family and gave me a sense of belonging amongst a really great group of Canadians.
The first time I heard Julie’s voice on the phone, I knew I was in safe hands. I completed my undergraduate degree at Western University and then when on to get my teaching degree.My first teaching position was at a small one form entry school just outside of Bradford city centre. Unfortunately, around November the school realized that they did not have the facilities to support me as an NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher). Julie stepped in and was able to find me a new position in a two-form all through school. In this role, I have been able to work towards my full registration.
This is my second year teaching in England and I have worked with various recruitment agencies across the UK. I came across Aurelia Education by chance when I was searching for jobs through the University Faculty of Education website. I sent an email to Aurelia inquiring about music teaching opportunities in Leeds which is where I have already spent a year.
I first came to teach in England with a different company. All sorts of promises were made prior to my arrival in the UK, but once I found myself in England, the promises weren’t kept and I just didn’t feel like they were looking out for my best interests.
I am currently working as a Year 7 and 8 core teacher. I manage the transition from Primary to Secondary school by creating consistency and being a familiar face in a new environment. I completed the 5 year Queen-Trent Concurrent Education program.
Aurelia Education is more than a company, it's a family. We have been in constant contact from the moment my boyfriend and I applied for the jobs back in Canada. Unlike other hiring companies I've heard of, Aurelia has been walking with us through the adventure. Aurelia has helped us Canadians stick together, and they have gone above and beyond to help us feel at home in the UK.
I am currently teaching intermediate/senior science in Kent, UK. I have completed my Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia and completed my undergraduate in Science with a major in Biology at Brock University in Canada.
Practicum UK
My first experience with Aurelia took place when I completed my final University placement in the UK. Aurelia worked with me to set up my interview with the school, to arrange accommodation, to connect with other Aurelia teachers…
I had a great time during my practicum with Aurelia! They made the process of getting to the U.K simple and digestible, and once I was over I felt like I wasn’t forgotten…
I have always dreamed of teaching abroad, but I was never sure if I would actually get there. After going to an information session regarding Aurelia, I knew I needed to go to the UK! The women working with Aurelia, made the entire process and transition so seamless. Aurelia is the perfect balance between being personable and professional. Each step of the way, they were there with such support, warmth and answers to any questions.
My experience in the UK was amazing thanks to Aurelia’s help! By Aurelia willing to help me with arranging my accommodations, tell me everything I need BEFORE I head over to the UK, the school I would be at so I can do research about what to expect from the school, and the constant communication throughout the trip to make sure you’re enjoying yourself while you’re teaching in the UK truly makes you feel like you’re with a family.
I never imagined that I would be working as a teacher a continent away from home; even now the entire experience has been a surreal one and something that I would take with me forever. My decision to embark on this experience was one left nearly to the last minute but Aurelia had been nothing but accommodating to my needs and circumstances; they made the effort to help me readjust my life to prepare for the journey.