Teacher CV examples + guide

A flawless lesson keeps students focused and engaged – your CV should do the same for hiring managers. Whether you’re starting as a teaching assistant or applying for the head of department, if your CV is hard to navigate, schools won’t waste time piecing it together.

To make sure your CV passes the recruitment test with top marks, we’ll break down how to format it, structure your experience, and showcase your strengths as an educator. By the end, you’ll have an academic application that stands out.

A teacher’s CV should be easy to read, with each section providing a clear snapshot of your experience and skills. Schools want to see at a glance that you meet their requirements, so keep it logical and well-organised when you’re writing your CV.

Here’s the structure to follow:

• Name and contact details – Keep these personal details at the top so schools can reach you quickly alongside a totally optional photo of yourself.
• Profile – A strong summary that highlights your teaching philosophy, experience, and key strengths.
• Core skills – Provide a snapshot of your most relevant abilities, from curriculum planning to behaviour management.
• Work experience – List your teaching roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on responsibilities and achievements.
• Education – Detail your teaching qualifications and any degrees, starting with the most recent.
• Additional info – Optionally include relevant hobbies and interests and awards that might help convey your expertise and passion.

A well-organised, professional layout ensures hiring managers can quickly find what they need. Your CV format should be as neatly presented as a well-prepared lesson plan – if it’s chaotic, messy, or longer than a school assembly speech, it’s time to tidy it up.

Follow these formatting tips:

• Bullet points – Use short, sharp bullet points to present your responsibilities and achievements clearly.
• Divide sections – Make use of distinct headings and logical spacing to guide recruiters through your CV.
• Use a clear and readable font – A simple, professional font ensures readability while keeping the layout polished and tidy.
• No more than 2 pages – This gives you enough length to detail your experience while keeping it concise enough to respect the recruiter’s time.

Your CV profile is your chance to introduce yourself as an educator. It should be a short but impactful summary that conveys your teaching approach, experience, and the value you’ll bring to any school.

Your profile should include:

• Your teaching experience – Specify the age groups or subjects you teach.
• Your teaching philosophy – Whether you focus on student engagement, inclusive learning, or innovative teaching methods, highlight it here.
• Curriculum expertise – Schools need to know that you can confidently deliver lessons in line with educational standards.
• Classroom management skills – Effective behaviour management is key to a thriving classroom.
• Additional contributions – If you’ve led extracurricular activities, mentored new teachers, or developed new initiatives, mention it.

A core CV skills section helps hiring managers quickly assess your key strengths. It’s a simple one or two columns of bullet points that list off the primary hard, tangible skills that recruiters scan for. Teaching roles vary widely, so tailor this section to match the job description and the school’s specific needs.

Your work experience should showcase more than just job titles – it should highlight how you’ve made a difference in your students’ learning. Schools want to see evidence of impact, whether that’s through student progress, innovative lesson delivery, or contributions to the school community.

List your teaching experience in reverse chronological order, focusing on how you’ve engaged students, supported their learning, and contributed to the wider school environment.

• Outline – Introduce the school, year groups or subjects taught, and any key responsibilities.
• Responsibilities – Describe your core duties, from lesson planning to student assessment. Use action words like “delivered”, “developed”, and “implemented”.
• Achievements – Showcase measurable impact, such as student progress, successful Ofsted inspections, or the introduction of new learning strategies.

Your qualifications are essential in a teaching CV. Schools need to know that you’re fully trained and certified to teach in your field, so list your education clearly.

If you’ve completed additional training in areas like SEN, safeguarding, or leadership, include those as well. List qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.