Getting a teaching job : Your CV

A CV for teaching jobs should contain the following information:

Education and qualifications

List your teacher training qualification first and include details on any special features, options or projects you have undertaken.

Qualifications should then be listed in reverse chronological order. If you are a PGCE student, mention any relevant modules that you did in your first degree. Also include any Masters modules you have taken. 

Teaching experience

• Give details of school experience in reverse chronological order, with names of schools, dates and year groups. Include practice not yet undertaken if details are known.
• Give an overview of each practice - curriculum taught, assemblies delivered, trips, etc.
• Give an indication of assessment methods used, behaviour management strategies, etc.
• Include any other teaching experience you may have.

Other experience

Briefly list other employment/voluntary experience.

Interests and activities

This section gives some insight into you as an individual. Mention here:

• any interests you have that are relevant to teaching;
• leadership experience;
• recent positions of responsibility you have held.

Other information/additional skills

Give details of any special skills or qualifications you can offer, such as:

• music;
• languages;
• sport (including coaching certificates);
• ICT;
• a driving licence;
• first aid/life-saving certificates.

Specify your competence in the Welsh language, both written and spoken, when applying for a job in a school in Wales.

Referees

You should list two referees and, as far as possible, ensure that one of them is from your school experience and the other from your training institution. Ensure you get permission from the referees before including their details.

Example CVs

• Skills-based CV
• Traditional CV

Covering letters

It is essential to send a covering letter when submitting your CV. This is your opportunity to make a connection between you as an individual, your qualifications, interests and experience, and the particular abilities, skills and qualities that the job requires. It allows you to expand on details you have mentioned in your CV and should include some of the same information as a personal statement. A covering letter in this instance can be up to two sides in length.

If you have already prepared a supporting statement as part of your application form, only a brief covering letter is required.

General tips

• Put your address at the top right-hand side of the letter and the name and address of the local authority (LA) or school on the left-hand side below your own, using the name of the head teacher where appropriate.
• Quote any reference number and source/date of the job advertisement.
• Tailor the letter to show that you are applying to that particular school and that it is not a standard letter sent to many schools.
• Provide evidence of the skills and experience you have by including examples from your past work or study to show you meet the requirements of the job.

The interview date is often printed as part of the advertisement. If you have a serious reason why you cannot attend, contact the school to discuss the possibility of attending on an alternative date.

See CVs and covering letters for general information on putting together an effective CV and covering letter.