Teacher CV: Examples and Writing Guide for UK Schools (2026)

Writing a Teacher CV for UK Schools

A teacher CV in the UK needs to satisfy two audiences: the school administrator who screens it against the person specification, and the headteacher or curriculum lead who decides whether to shortlist.

The administrator is checking boxes: QTS, subjects, key stages, DBS status. The headteacher is looking for evidence you can improve pupil outcomes and fit the school's culture.

Your CV needs to serve both in under 2 pages.

Teacher CV Structure (UK)

1. Contact details
2. Personal statement / professional profile
3. QTS and professional status
4. Teaching experience (most recent first)
5. Education and qualifications
6. Professional development and training
7. Skills and additional information
8. References (or "available on request")

QTS and Professional Status

Put this immediately after your personal statement — it's the first thing a school checks.

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Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) — Awarded [Year]

DfE Teacher Reference Number: [Number]

DBS Check: Enhanced, [Year] — on the Update Service: Yes/No

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For Early Career Teachers (ECTs):

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Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) — Awarded 2025

ECT Induction: In progress, [Local Authority / MAT], 2025–2026

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Personal Statement for Teachers

4–5 lines. Cover: phase/subject, years of experience, teaching philosophy (one sentence, evidence-based), and what you're looking for.

Example (Primary, ECT):

"Newly qualified primary teacher (QTS 2026) with placements across KS1 and KS2 in schools serving diverse urban communities in East London. During a 12-week KS2 placement, supported a Year 5 class where 78% of pupils achieved expected standard in reading — up from 64% at the start of term. Committed to inclusive, evidence-based teaching practice. Seeking a Year 3/4 post in a school with a strong collaborative culture and commitment to professional development."

Example (Secondary Maths, experienced):

"Experienced Maths teacher with 9 years across KS3, KS4, and KS5, including 4 years as Second in Department at a Good-rated comprehensive. GCSE results consistently above national average (72% A*–C vs 68% national, 2025). Seeking a Head of Department or TLR role in a secondary school committed to raising attainment in disadvantaged groups."

Teaching Experience

For each role, include:

• •School name, location, and type (state, academy, independent)
• •Your role and any TLR or additional responsibilities
• •Key stages and subjects taught
• •Class sizes
• •3–5 achievement bullets

Achievement bullet examples:

• ✗*"Responsible for teaching Year 9 Maths"*
• *"Raised Year 9 Maths attainment from 54% to 71% achieving expected standard in 12 months through a structured intervention programme targeting low-prior-attainment pupils"*

• ✗*"Helped with behaviour management across the school"*
• *"Implemented a restorative practice approach within form group, reducing referrals to SLT by 40% in one term"*

• ✗*"Led extracurricular activities"*
• *"Founded and ran a KS3 coding club (22 pupils), culminating in two pupils entering and placing in the regional Bebras computational thinking challenge"*

Data points that impress headteachers:

• •Attainment %, progress measures, value-added scores
• •Pupil premium impact
• •Ofsted inspection findings for your areas
• •Attendance rates
• •Exclusion reduction

Placements (ECTs and NQTs)

Write placements as full experience entries. Be specific about:

• •School context (Ofsted rating, %FSM, school type)
• •Key stages and year groups
• •Class sizes
• •What you achieved

Example:

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School Experience B — Mainstream Secondary, Outstanding (Ofsted 2024)

[School Name], South London | Jan 2026 – Apr 2026

• Taught Year 7–10 English (sets 2 and 4), classes of 28–32 pupils

• Designed and delivered a 6-week SOW on dystopian fiction; 83% of pupils achieved the lesson target on final assessment

• Observed and reflected on strategies for supporting pupils with EHCPs and SEMH needs

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Qualifications

Include in reverse chronological order:

• •PGCE/School Direct/Teach First qualification (include specialism and institution)
• •Degree (title, classification, institution, year)
• •A-levels and GCSEs (relevant ones)

For secondary teachers, make your subject degree prominent and include classification.

Additional Information

Include:

• •Subject specialism (e.g. "Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) in Mathematics, 2023")
• •Additional teaching qualifications (SENCO, NPQML, NPQH, etc.)
• •Languages spoken (valuable in many schools)
• •First Aid at Work / Paediatric First Aid
• •Safeguarding training (date)

What NOT to Include

Vague teaching philosophy — "I believe every child can succeed" says nothing. Show it through pupil outcomes instead.

Unverifiable claims — Don't claim Ofsted praise you can't evidence.

TES profile link as a substitute — Include full details on the CV itself.

CV Length for Teachers

2 pages is the standard. Don't pad to 3 pages for early career teachers; don't squeeze 12 years into 1 page for senior staff.

FixerCV's ATS checker works with teaching CVs — check your keyword coverage against the person specification of the role you're applying for.

Check your teacher CV →