I've mentioned this before but it bears repeating.
There is essentially no difference in the training you get at a large FTO such as Jerez and OATS compared to a small FTO such as Bristol or PAT. The lessons are the same, the exams identical, the flight tests identical. I know, I've been a flying instructor of both Modular and Integrated at both small and large FTOs.
In many operational and practical ways I believe you get a better product at a smaller FTO. At all the large schools you will feel like you are in a sausage machine, that management are remote, that the sponsored students get preferential treatment, that 'your' aircraft gets nicked too often and that 'your' instructor is not 'yours' as often as you'd like.
So why go to a more expensive large FTO? One reason.
When the airline hiring market it tight things get frantic in the recruitment departments of airlines. It is happening RIGHT NOW. At this point they need two dozen cadets on a type rating course starting yesterday. They don't have the time nor inclination to place ads in Flight, read applications, interview, aptitude test then make offers.
What they do instead is phone the Head Of Training at places like OATS, Jerez, Cabair, CTC and say "we need you best 12 cadets who could be on a type rating course this afternoon". That is why large FTO's have Heads Of Training - they don't actually do much other than act as a link between school and airline. Nice work if you can get it.
At this time the extra cost of being at such a large FTO pays off. You might be one of the names put forward by the HoT. Bingo - bypass years of job hunting and working your way up the ladder and procede directly to the RHS of a big comfy jet.
So essentially it's a bit of a gamble going to a large prestigous expensive FTO. Your course may have graduated 3 months too early for that frantic phone call from the airline recruiters. Or not be ready for another 6 weeks. Or maybe they don't put your name forward because you fluffed a flight test or got drunk at the Christmas party and threw up on the CFI's wifes shoes.
So don't think school X is 'better' than school 'Y' and never ever think there is a direct realtionship between cost and quality. There is not.
Also do not also be lulled into thinking that nearly every person who pays the money and goes to a large FTO will get a jet job. There are hundreds every year going through them and here we are talking about EZY taking 24.
As an aside. The market is booming and now is a brilliant time to be getting qualified. Jobs are never easy to find but it is easier now than for a long time. The market is also now much bigger than during the last boom in 2000. Both Ryanair and EZY now stand with a fleet of over a 100 aircraft each with delivery rates in double digits every year for the next few years. Lots of people are moving around different employers as they are nearly all expanding or planning to. India and China are coming on stream and will prove a powerful magnet for experienced people to leave these shores and go contracting. Both Boeing and Airbus have full order books for the next 6 years and both bizjets and helicopters are exploding with work.
Good luck,
WWW