Teacher CV

How to Write an Impactful Teacher CV (Guide with Examples)

Key points to consider:

• An effective teacher CV should clearly highlight your classroom experience, subject knowledge, and ability to support student learning in a professional school environment.

• A good teacher CV layout is usually one to two pages long and should be tailored to the type of teaching role you’re applying for, such as primary, secondary, or specialist education.

• Your teaching qualifications, training, and classroom experience form the foundation of your application, supported by key skills like lesson planning, behaviour management, and safeguarding awareness.

• Personalising your CV with keywords from the job advert and a targeted personal profile can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview.

• A well-structured, applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly CV with clear headings, education-focused language, and measurable achievements will help you stand out from other candidates.

We cover what schools and recruiters look for, how to tailor your CV to specific teaching roles, and how to showcase achievements like lesson planning, behaviour management, and collaboration with staff and parents. In this article, you’ll find practical examples and a teacher CV template to help you create a polished application and improve your chances of securing interviews.

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Teacher CV Example

Download this CV model for teachers in PDF

An established bilingual educator, Lisa Pearse, selected the Harvard template to showcase key knowledge and skills. Her work experience and skills sections provide a detailed yet concise overview of relevant skills in an easy-to-read form. Lisa’s profile presents her as creative, engaging, and adaptable for work in different classroom environments. With a deep understanding of pedagogy and teaching methods supported by her educational degree in English language and literature, she is a suitable candidate for her next job position. Check out the matching teacher cover letter for more inspiration.

Being a teacher is not only a rewarding profession, but it also gives you the opportunity to shape someone's life and bring out their true potential. Just as they inspire and empower their students, your CV is your golden ticket to getting hired and should captivate and impress employers.

If you’re a graduate or PhD looking for a new role or seeking a career change in the education sector, this step-by-step guide provides examples and practical tips to help you align your CV with the latest UK standards. Knowing how to write a teacher CV and what to include makes you more likely to succeed in your teaching career. Draw inspiration from our CV writing guide and teacher CV template below.

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What to include in a teacher CV?

When creating a CV as a teacher in the UK, it’s essential to include main sections, providing a comprehensive overview of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. These include the following:

• Personal details: Include email address and contact number.

• Personal profile: Summary of your experience and qualifications.

• Work experience: Use bullet points and action verbs.

• Skills: Demonstrate your suitability for the role.

• Education: List your most recent relevant qualifications.

For more practical tips and examples, check out our blog article on job-specific vs master CV.

As for the optional sections, you can include:

• Volunteer roles such as student society involvement.

• Courses and certificates

• Technical proficiencies

• Courses and certificates

• Hobbies and interests.

By effectively highlighting these sections, you demonstrate your value as a teacher.

Must-have CV sections

• Personal profile

• Skills section

• Work experience

• Education

Learn more about how to write a good CV.

How to write a personal profile on a teacher CV

Your CV personal profile, also known as a summary, is the first section that catches the eye of the recruiter.

• It serves as a brief professional statement that reflects your career aspirations and goals.

• A personal profile for a teacher or other education-related roles highlights your unique qualities and showcases versatility and adaptability.

• It also provides a glimpse into your teaching experience and passion for learning.

When it comes to writing your personal profile, follow these tips:

• Tailor it to the job

• Showcase your unique selling points

• Incorporate keywords

• Keep it clear and concise.

Teacher CV personal profile examples

Explore our primary school teacher CV example for more tips!

Explore our teaching assistant CV and teaching assistant cover letter examples more more guidance.

What skills to include on a CV as a teacher

When crafting a teaching CV, highlight key skills you have gained throughout your career or education.

• Soft skills are personal traits that define your relationship with others.

• Hard skills are tangible abilities accumulated through experience.

How to write work experience on a teacher CV

When writing work experience, highlight experience and achievements tailored to the role you’re applying for.

• Start sentences with action verbs such as ‘coached’, ‘developed’, and ‘improved’ without using first-person pronouns.

• Use a reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent ones and working backwards.

• Back up your teaching career with evidence. Instead of describing, try demonstrating why you're qualified and best suited for the role.

• Remember that recruiters want to see specific, measurable achievements from your career.

• For experiences older than ten years, exclude the dates and add them into a custom ‘Additional Experience’ section instead.

• Showcase what you did versus what you achieved by writing down your duties, supported by ideally two achievements that should be listed in bullet point format.

• Use industry-specific terms and acronyms to demonstrate your competence.

What accomplishments to list for a teacher CV?

Adding career accomplishments or achievements is a great way to impress schools.

• They show your aspirations and what motivates you to teach.

• Use actionable descriptions and apply them to your desired role.

• Elaborate on how they are relevant to your career goals or skills you obtained.

• Keep them concise and aim for one to two lines per achievement.

5 examples of achievements for a teacher CV:

• "Supported 10 students by managing lesson planning and providing thorough feedback to help them improve their language learning."

• "Designed new teaching strategies to engage students with a broad range of learning styles, prioritising one-on-one education and taking a whole-child approach."

• "Achieved remarkable academic progress, increasing the grade average from 55% to 70% within one academic year by means of introducing after-school lessons."

• "Led a community outreach program and successfully distributed over 500 books to children, resulting in higher literacy rates and access to reading materials within the target population."

• "Volunteered at a local non-profit organisation, assisting with event coordination, resulting in a 20% increase in funds raised compared to last year."

What should each work experience entry include?

• Job title of current or previous role

• Organisation name and location

• Dates of employment (month/year)

• A concise paragraph detailing your duties

• Followed by 2–3 bullet points that highlight your key achievements or measurable impact.

Learn more about the work experience section in a CV.

Examples of work experience for a teacher CV

Secondary School Teacher, Oxford High School, 2017-Present

Employ interactive teaching methods, ensuring the active involvement of each student while fostering a positive learning environment. Provide regular feedback and maintained a record of student progress while proactively addressing improvement areas. Attend departmental meetings, parents' evenings, and school-wide training events.

• Successfully applied a hybrid learning model by combining face-to-face and online teaching during COVID-19.

• Improved grade average from 55% to 70% in one year by introducing additional after-school lessons.

• Developed lesson plans for Years 9, 10, and 11 with a class of an average of 20 to 25 students.

Primary School Teacher, St. Mary's Primary School, London, 2018-Present

Implemented dynamic teaching strategies to engage young learners, fostering a stimulating and inclusive classroom environment. Conducted regular assessments to monitor student progress and tailored instructional approaches to meet individual learning needs. Collaborated with colleagues to develop cross-curricular projects and initiatives.

• Organised and led educational field trips to historical landmarks and cultural institutions, enriching students' understanding of the curriculum.

• Integrated outdoor learning experiences into the curriculum, such as nature walks and gardening activities, to promote environmental awareness and physical well-being.

• Utilised technology to enhance learning opportunities, including interactive whiteboards and educational software, to support differentiated instruction and increase student engagement.

Secondary School Teacher, Manchester Grammar School, 2016-2018

Employed innovative teaching methods to challenge and inspire students, fostering critical thinking skills and academic excellence. Developed comprehensive lesson plans aligned with national curriculum standards and examination requirements. Provided timely feedback and support to students to facilitate continuous improvement in academic performance.

• Initiated a peer tutoring program leading to a 15% improvement in students' exam scores, demonstrating enhanced academic outcomes and collaborative learning.

• Organised and facilitated extracurricular activities such as debating club and science fair competitions, fostering student leadership and teamwork, which resulted in a 20% increase in student participation.

• Participated in professional development workshops and training seminars to enhance teaching practices and stay abreast of educational trends and research.

How to include education on a teacher CV

Knowing how to include your education on your CV is important to showcase the appropriate qualifications.

• Begin with your highest level of education and work backwards in chronological order.

• List the degree name fully and the name of the institution where you have obtained your qualifications.

• Include the year of completion or say 'in progress' if you still haven't graduated.

• Include any relevant coursework or professional training relevant to your job target, especially if you’re a recent graduate.

• Mention any academic honours, awards, publications, or other pertinent achievements.

• If applicable, mention any relevant teaching certifications or licenses you have obtained.

• Keep the education section concise, providing a single line for each degree or certification.

How to format the education section

• Degree name in full

• Institution and location

• Date of completion, expected date of completion, or in progress

• Relevant coursework, projects, or awards.

What if you are a newly-qualified teacher?

Placing education above work experience on a CV for a teaching job can be beneficial if you are just starting out.

For entry-level roles such as newly qualified teachers (NQT) or teaching assistants, prioritising the education section can be beneficial, especially if the job description strongly emphasises the requirements.

However, for highly qualified teaching roles such as headteacher or principal that value practical experience, emphasising work experience may be more effective.

Example of education in a teacher CV

When to include references on a teacher CV?

If you get shortlisted for a job interview, and the hiring manager requests references, it would be appropriate to include them.

• Add them at the end of your CV

• List their full name, job title, employer name, and type of professional relationship.

• Alternatively, you can always say instead ‘references available upon request’ at the bottom of your CV.

Examples of references on a CV:

• Emma Johnson (Line Manager and Supervisor), Head of English Department, Oakwood Secondary School.

• James Wilson (Former colleague), Headteacher, Maple Primary School.

• Dr. Rebecca Turner (Teaching Advisor), Education Consultant, Education Services UK.

How to add courses and certificates to a teacher CV

When listing courses and certificates on a teacher CV, you need to:

• Start with a dedicated section called 'Courses and certificates' or 'Professional development'.

• List the course or certificate name, followed by the provider or institution name.

• Include the year of completion for each course or certificate.

• If applicable, mention any notable achievements or key learnings.

• Prioritise courses and certificates that are directly related to the teaching field or that enhance your skills and qualifications for the specific job you are applying for.

• If you have completed multiple courses or certificates, consider grouping them to make your writing more cohesive.

• Include a brief description of the skills acquired from each course or certificate.

• Highlight any practical experience or practicum components in your training.

• Include courses and certificates most relevant to the teaching role you are applying for.

Examples of courses and certificates:

Using one of the courses and certificates for teachers below, you can leverage your degree or work experience to teach English within the UK or abroad:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Department for Education, 2022

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme, Academies Enterprise Trust: Essex, 2021

• English as a Foreign Language, TEFL, 2021

• Classroom Management, Udemy, 2020

• Certificate in the Principles of Special Educational Needs, South Devon College, 2020

To learn more, see the article on different routes to get into teaching.

When to include languages on a teaching CV?

The best way to include language skills on a CV is to create a separate section called 'Languages'.

Tips on how to add languages to a teacher CV

• Take a recognised test to evaluate your language proficiency.

• Only add relevant language skills that you can use in a professional setting.

• Include language proficiency using the CEFR language framework.

• Mention your ability to work in a multilingual environment in the personal profile or work experience section.

• Additionally, you add the name of the credited provider or university where you acquired your diploma.

Example of how to list languages in a CV:

• English – Native

• Spanish – Fluent (C1)

• French – Intermediate (B1)

What are the common mistakes to avoid when writing a teacher CV

If you're receiving multiple rejections on your job applications, it could happen because of wrong information or lack of focus on your CV.

• Irrelevant information: personalise your CV for each job, ensuring there is no generic or excessive information.

• Wrong format: opt for a clean design with bullet points and chronological CV format to maintain high readability.

• Grammar mistakes: proofread meticulously to maintain a professional appearance and meet the employer's expectations.

• Lack of proof: support your claims with specific examples of certifications, projects, or experience.

• Missing sections: double-check you've included all the must-have sections, such as personal profile or education to submit a complete application.

• Too much information: Keep your CV no longer than 1 or 2 pages.

How to write a CV as a teacher with no experience?

If you lack experience as a teacher or are writing your first CV, consider the following:

• Emphasise sections such as education, courses and certificates, and additional experience.

• Highlight your transferable skills or related positions you can use in your next teaching position. For example, if you have skills in sports, music, or drama, include them. Schools love teachers who can run extracurricular clubs.

• Take a look at the Ofsted or school's website to note key goals, ongoing projects, and mission and vision statements that you can incorporate into your job application.

• Focus on your teaching placements. List the school name, the year groups you taught, and your key responsibilities.

• Check for gaps as safeguarding is a priority in education. Ensure every month of your employment or education history is accounted for. If there is a gap, explain it clearly (e.g., "Gap year travelling").

• Alternatively, consider creating a skills-based CV where you can focus more on your technical proficiencies and projects.

Find more tips to successfully write a CV with little to no experience.

Key takeaways

Knowing what to include and how to include it on your teacher CV is important to be one step ahead of the competition.

• Focus on your most recent teaching experience or related roles.

• List relevant degrees, certifications, and specialised training in the education field.

• Highlight your soft skills, such as patience and communication and hard skills, such as classroom management or lesson planning.

• Highlight your additional experience that could include a professional development program, conferences, or other training qualifications.

• Demonstrate your ability to work in different classroom environments to address diverse student needs.

• Include volunteer work or extracurricular activities that display leadership and community involvement.

• Showcase technical proficiencies such as Learning Management System (LMS) or Assessment software such as School Information Management System (SIMS).

• Use our English CV sample for teachers to teach yourself the best strategies and navigate the education sector.

Let's recap

1. Tailor your CV: Research the company and create a separate CV for each job you apply for.

2. Highlight transferrable skills: List skills gained from side jobs or internships (e.g. teamwork, data analysis)

3. Apply with a cover letter: Complement your CV with a cover letter to further display your skills and experience.

Next steps?

If you need to iron out inconsistencies in your CV or want to create your teaching CV from scratch, we have designed an all-on-one career platform to assist you in every step. Using our intuitive CV maker, you can choose from one of the 20 professional templates to create a modern CV. If you want a CV or cover letter review, check out our CV Writing Services. Additionally, check out our blog article on good interview questions to ask during a job interview.

FAQs

What is the best CV format for teachers?

The best teacher CV format is reverse chronological, starting with your most recent teaching position and moving your way backwards. While the look of your CV is important, it should not overshadow the content. Instead, select the appropriate format and layout that best showcases your qualifications and teaching experience.

Consult our guide on the best font for your CV and the best colour for your CV for more valuable advice to increase your job prospects.

How long should a teacher CV be?

The CV length for teachers ranges from one to two pages. Focus on your most recent experience and qualifications, strongest skills, and career accomplishments relevant to your job targets. Ensure to avoid repetitive information.

For more information, check out our related blog article on how long should a CV be.

How much do teachers get paid in the UK?

According to the UK Department of Education, the median salary for a teacher in the UK ranges from £28,000 to £38,000 a year, with the salaries in London fringe ranging from £29,000 to £40,000 a year. Experienced teachers can earn even more by progressing into the upper pay range or becoming leading practitioners. Learn more about average salary in the UK.

What kind of teaching jobs are available in the UK?

The UK offers a wide range of teaching opportunities. Depending on your career aspirations or motivations, there is a teaching job to suit you and align with where you are in your career. You can find teaching jobs in secondary or primary schools, be a teaching assistant, or look for a role in special education.

How long does it take to become a teacher in the UK?

Before you apply for teaching training, you first need to obtain your QTS. It can take anywhere from 9 months full-time or up to 24 months part-time.

How do I get a teaching license in the UK?

To obtain a teaching license in the UK, you need to complete a recognised education programme and obtain a pedagogical diploma (PGCE). Additionally, you must demonstrate proficiency in English, gain practical teaching experience, and pass a criminal background check. Once you've fulfilled these requirements, you can apply for certification through the relevant authority.

The typical requirements for teachers in different regions of the UK are as follows:

England and Wales requirements:

• Initial Teacher Training (ITT) or Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

• GCSE C/4 or above

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

• Experience working with children in a mainstream UK school in the age group for which you're applying

• Relevant degree in a subject you wish to teach

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

• Induction period

• Postgraduate teaching apprenticeship

Scotland requirements:

• Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

• Teaching Qualification (TQ)

By incorporating one or more of these criteria and tailoring your CV to a specific role, you can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed. It's important to align your CV with the vision and values of your desired school and demonstrate how you can contribute to preparing students for their future success.

What are the responsibilities of a teacher?

Teachers are in charge of organising and giving lessons, assessing student performance, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive learning environment. Moreover, they communicate with children's parents, collaborate with different school departments, and participate in whole school initiatives, such as drama plays, debates, community service, and others.

How many skills on a teacher CV?

Include around 6 to 8 key skills on your teacher CV, focusing on abilities such as lesson planning, classroom management, communication, adaptability, and student assessment. Remember to include soft skills in your personal profile and hard skills in a separate section.

See our related blog article on the top skills employers look for in your CV.

How to talk about teacher training year in CV?

Include the program name, institution, and year of graduation in your CV education section. Additionally, you could add one or two bullet points, elaborating on achievements and skills gained from the training year. Show how it has prepared you for the teaching career and emphasises your lesson planning and classroom management skills.

How to write a CV as a graduate teacher?

Change the focus from your work experience to education, relevant certifications, tutoring, and any internships or volunteer work related to education. Show your interest in teaching, eagerness to learn, and genuine passion to contribute to the student's growth. Highlight transferable skills gained through academic projects or part-time jobs.

Do I need to add a photo to my teacher CV?

Adding a photo is not a requirement for most jobs in the UK. Unlike the US and other European countries, recruiters and hiring managers would not usually ask you to have it on career documents, unless stated otherwise in the application form.

For more information, see our blog article on how to add a photo to a CV.