CV example teacher
Deciding to become a teacher is about more than choosing your next job. Unlike most professions, you have the opportunity to make a real impact on young people’s lives. As a teacher, you’ll develop lesson plans, direct the work of teaching assistants, mark and assess pupils’ work, ensure the safety of pupils by following protocols, write progress reports, talk to parents about pupils’ progress, organise outings and much more.
Given that teachers have a huge responsibility on their shoulders (you’ll ultimately be responsible for the care of young learners for eight hours a day), it’s understandable that recruitment processes for teaching are rigorous.
In addition to teaching qualifications, you will also need to submit a CV, a cover letter and an application form as well as undergo several interviews.
To get you noticed by recruiters, we’re here to help with guidelines for writing your teacher CV as well as a CV example, which you can use as a template.
Personal details
As teaching is a highly regulated profession, you will need to undergo background checks before you can secure a teaching position, no matter where you’re applying.
Therefore, it’s crucial that your personal details and contact information are up-to-date. Moved recently? Make sure that you provide your new address and not your old one where you may still be receiving correspondence.
Personal statement or profile
Your personal statement or profile is not only an opportunity to demonstrate what you have to offer as a teacher, but also why you want to teach. As mentioned above, teaching can be a demanding job with long hours, where you’ll often face difficult situations. Recruiters want to see that you have an innate passion for teaching and that you’re not just in it for the long holidays.
Therefore, the best personal statement demonstrates your passion for teaching as well as a desire to make an impact on other peoples’ lives.
To write your personal statement, start with an introduction of your current situation, then follow it with a short but comprehensive summary of your experience and skills. Be sure to illustrate what makes you unique to other candidates.
For example, if you have a reputation for helping pupils achieve excellent GCSE results, mention this fact.
Profile
I am a qualified teacher in German and French, currently seeking a full-time teaching position at GCSE level or above. During my NQT year, I helped Year 11 pupils achieve record GCSE *A grades in German through extra-curricular activities. Living and teaching English in Germany after university instilled a love of teaching in me as well as the ability to interact with young people from diverse backgrounds.
Work experience
Given the wide range of education providers available (state schools, grammar academies, colleges, etc.), recruiters will want to know exactly where you have taught before and which age range.
If you have limited teaching experience (because you’re a newly qualified teacher), it’s fine to include details of your placements in this section.
You could also include any experience teaching English abroad.
Be sure to mention any special responsibilities you may have had such as mentoring pupils in need of extra tuition or running after-school clubs
Employment
Sep 2009 - Jun 2010 NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher): Modern Foreign Languages Teacher, Valkyrie Secondary School, Liverpool
- Supervised Year 10 pupils on a 2-day foreign exchange trip to Dresden, Germany.
- Provided extra tuition to Year 11 pupils preparing for GCSE exams: as a result, over 60% achieved A* or A grades in their final exams.
Jan 2009 - May 2009 PGCE Placement: German, Falmouth High, Brighton
- Assumed responsibility for report-writing and parents evenings for classes, in addition to planning and delivering lessons.
- Provided extra tuition to Year 11 pupils in preparing for GCSEs.
Sep 2007 - Jun 2008 English Language Assistant, The British Council, Metz, France
- Teaching English to students in one-one-sessions, after-school clubs and classes of up to thirty.
Sep 2006 - Jun 2007 English Language Assistant, The British Council, Metz, France
- Motivated pupils to learn languages through interactive role plays, games and quizzes.
Education
More so than in any other profession, recruiters want to see that you meet the educational requirements for becoming a teacher. This can include a teaching degree, PGCE or any of the routes recommended by UCAS.
Start with your most recent education first and include a brief summary of the modules you took.
Education
Oct 2008 - Jul 2009 PGCE in German and French: Distinction, University of Sussex, Brighton
- Included academic modules in the theory of teaching as well as two placements in secondary schools.
Oct 2002 - Jul 2003 BA Hons in French and German: Merit, University of Sussex, Brighton
- Included modules in language skills, European culture and literature.
EXPERT TIP
Most schools and education providers will be familiar with acronyms such as QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) and PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education). However, if in doubt or you’re applying to a private institution, include the explanation beside the acronym in the first instance.
Skills
As a teacher, your CV or resume will need to include a range of hard and soft skills to show that you can handle any classroom situations that may arise. These can include:
- Leadership: supervising large groups of children
- Critical thinking: assessing situations and take the appropriate course of action
- Classroom management: managing disruptive behaviour while maintaining calm in the classroom
- Organisational: Developing lesson plans for 30+ pupils in addition to extra-curricular activities
- Problem-solving: Being prepared for technology failures with substitute lesson plans
- IT: TalentLMS, Teachable or any subject-specific software
Languages
If you’re applying for a role teaching languages, you’ll need to list any languages you speak fluently in a separate section. Honesty is the policy here as you’ll almost certainly be asked to plan and deliver a lesson in the language you claim you’re competent at.
Languages
English – mother tongue
German – bilingual
French - fluent
References
Generally, recruiters won’t expect you to provide references on your CV as these tend to be requested after you’ve been made an offer.
If there’s space left on your CV, you could write ‘References available upon request’ at the bottom. However, if you’re short of space, save it for demonstrating your experience or skills.
Format and layout
Format
With teaching being a highly conversative profession, most recruiters will prefer to see a chronological CV, which starts with your most recent experience first. This is so that they can quickly understand your work experience and your qualifications. Even if you have very little teaching experience, a chronological CV is best with the ‘Education’ section above your ‘Work Experience’.
Layout
As a teacher, you need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly, both orally and in writing, whether to students, parents or school governors.
You can convey this through your CV by keeping to a professional layout. This means using only neutral colours such as black, dark blue, grey and white as well as larger fonts (12-14) for headings to ensure they stand out. Include enough white between the different sections so that your CV doesn’t look too cluttered. Use one of our resume templates to ensure a professional presentation of your skills and work experience.
Hopefully, you now have everything you need to create your own teacher CV.
