CV and cover letter resources
Secondary School Teacher CV Example and Writing Guide
A secondary school teacher CV should show three things quickly: your subject and key stages, your qualified status, and what your teaching changed for pupils. Heads of department want evidence of planning, assessment and pastoral care rather than a list of duties. Below is a fictional History teacher CV for a UK school, followed by advice on structure, QTS, safeguarding and evidence.
Updated
How should a secondary teacher CV be structured in the UK?
Open with a short personal profile, then list your teaching posts in reverse order, followed by qualifications and skills. State your subject, the key stages you teach and your qualified status in the first two lines, because that is what a head of department checks first. Keep the CV to two pages, with no photo, no date of birth and no marital status.
Under each post, name the school type (academy, comprehensive, grammar, independent or sixth form college) and the age range you taught. Add responsibilities such as form tutor, second in department or exams lead as part of the job title or in the first bullet. Include your Teacher Reference Number (TRN) in the qualifications section if you have one, since schools use it for pre-employment checks.
Many state schools and trusts ask for their own application form rather than a CV. Keep your CV up to date anyway: it is the quickest source for completing those forms, and independent schools and agencies often accept it directly. Copy your profile into the personal statement box and expand it with examples linked to the job description.
How do you show results without inventing figures?
Describe what you did and what changed for pupils, using only data you can explain at interview. If you quote exam outcomes, make sure they are your own classes and that you could show the school's analysis behind them. When results are shared across a department, say so honestly and focus on your part in them.
Good evidence does not have to be a percentage. You can mention a scheme of work you rewrote, a revision programme adopted by colleagues, moderation you led with the exam board's mark scheme, or a reading intervention that improved extended answers. Name the specification (AQA, Edexcel, OCR or WJEC) if you know the school uses the same board.
Pastoral impact also counts. Supporting a tutor group through UCAS, improving attendance in a form group, or running a club that keeps disengaged pupils in school are all concrete. Write them as actions with a clear outcome, not as personal qualities.
Which qualifications should you list: QTS, PGCE and Irish registration?
List your degree, your initial teacher training route and your QTS clearly, with dates and the awarding institution. In England, most state schools expect Qualified Teacher Status, gained through a PGCE with QTS, a fee-funded or salaried postgraduate route with a university or SCITT, a teaching apprenticeship or another accredited route. If you trained after 2021, mention that you completed or are completing the early career teacher induction.
If you trained elsewhere, give your original qualification its real name and check the official route before you apply. Teachers qualified outside the UK can apply to the Teaching Regulation Agency for QTS through the gov.uk service, and the eligibility rules depend on where you trained. Never write QTS on your CV until the award is confirmed; use "QTS application in progress" instead.
The rules differ across these islands. Teachers in Scotland register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and in Ireland teachers paid from state funds in recognised schools must be registered with the Teaching Council. For an Irish post, mention your registration status and your experience with Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate subjects rather than GCSE and A-level.
How do you present safeguarding and your wider contribution?
Show that you take safeguarding seriously and that you contribute beyond your own classroom. State that you hold an enhanced DBS check, and whether it is on the Update Service, in your skills section. Mention your safeguarding training in one line; there is no need to list every course.
Schools must follow statutory guidance on safer recruitment, so explain any gaps in your employment history briefly and factually. Provide two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent headteacher or line manager. Missing information slows down the process and may hold up an offer.
Wider contribution belongs on the CV when it is relevant to pupils. Clubs, trips, Duke of Edinburgh's Award supervision, mentoring trainee teachers or leading a whole-school project show that you will support the life of the school. Keep hobbies short unless they link to enrichment you could offer.
| Weak wording | Stronger wording |
|---|---|
| Taught History to Year 10. | Taught GCSE History (AQA) to two Year 10 groups and rewrote the Year 10 scheme of work on conflict and tension. |
| Responsible for behaviour management. | Applied the school's behaviour for learning policy consistently and used restorative conversations with a Year 9 group. |
| Good with technology. | Set and marked retrieval quizzes on Google Classroom weekly for all Key Stage 3 classes. |
| Form tutor. | Year 13 form tutor for 35 pupils, supporting UCAS personal statements and results day guidance. |
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a photo on a teacher CV in the UK?
No. UK schools do not expect a photo, and leaving it out keeps the focus on your teaching. Also leave out your date of birth, nationality and marital status; you will confirm your right to work in the UK separately during pre-employment checks.
How long should a secondary teacher CV be?
Two pages is the usual length. Give most space to your last two or three posts and summarise older roles in a line or two each.
Can I apply for teaching jobs before my QTS is awarded?
Yes. Trainee teachers usually apply during their training year. Write the expected award date next to your PGCE or training route, for example "QTS expected July 2027", and name your placement schools in the experience section.
Do I need a CV if the school uses an application form?
Usually you complete the form instead, as schools use it for safer recruitment. A current CV still helps you fill the form quickly and accurately, and some independent schools and agencies ask for one.