How to Write the Perfect Teacher CV (Without Wanting to Cry)

Whether you’re fresh out of your QTS year or you’re part of SLT and looking for a new challenge, writing a CV for teachers can feel like an absolute minefield. Where do you even begin? What do you include? What do you leave out? Should it be formal? Should it be chatty? Is Comic Sans ever acceptable? (Short answer: absolutely not.)

Let’s be honest, teaching is demanding enough without having to worry about CV formatting and layout decisions. So if you’re staring at a blank Word doc thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing,” you’re not alone.

And here’s the thing — no one teaches you how to write a CV for primary teacher or any teaching role. You could be amazing in the classroom, have a bookshelf full of thank-you cards from students, and still feel completely stuck when it comes to putting all of that down on paper. It’s one of those weird professional skills you’re just expected to have, even though it’s not part of your training.

But don’t worry, Scriberly’s got your back. Whether you’re applying for your first teaching role or aiming for a leadership position, here are some straightforward tips to help you build a standout teacher CV that actually gets read.

Start with Your Education

It probably goes without saying, but in the world of education, your own education really does matter, so don’t gloss over it.

Make sure you clearly include your PGCE (your teaching qualification), your Bachelor’s degree, and any relevant subject-specific training or additional CPD you’ve done. You don’t need to go into A-levels and GCSEs unless they’re especially relevant or impressive — just focus on the highlights.

If you’re still early in your teaching career, go into detail about your degree, your PGCE course, school placements, and even things like modules or research that align with your subject area. Talk about your grades if you’re proud of them (and yes, feel free to brag a little).

If you’re further along in your teaching career, your experience will do more of the talking, but it’s still worth listing your education clearly and cleanly at the top of your CV for teachers.

Dive into Your Experience

This section is where your CV for teachers really takes shape.

• If you’re a junior teacher: highlight your QTS year: what you taught, what kind of school it was, which year groups you worked with, and how you progressed throughout the year. Mention any feedback you received, initiatives you took on, and how you developed your teaching style.

• If you’re more experienced: bring your school history to the forefront, especially the roles you’ve held recently. Cover subjects you’ve taught, class sizes, exam results, any student success stories, and specific contributions you made to the school community.

And don’t forget the extra responsibilities. If you’ve taken on a TLR (Teaching and Learning Responsibility), helped with curriculum development, mentored new teachers, or run after-school clubs, make sure that’s all in there. Schools love this, and it shows leadership potential. Be specific. Numbers, outcomes, and impact are your best friends here.

This section is where the CV format for a teacher really matters. A clean, concise format ensures your experience stands out. By keeping things clearly organised and easy to read, you help recruiters quickly understand your strengths and achievements.

Don’t Skip the Extra-Curricular Parts

This is where your personality gets to shine, and it’s far more important than most people think.

Hobbies and interests are a brilliant way to show schools who you are outside the classroom. They help create connections during interviews, give potential colleagues a glimpse of what it might be like to work with you, and crucially help schools think about what kind of extra-curricular activities or TLRs you could support.

The same goes for your skills. Whether it’s photography, coding, chess, netball, or drama — you might have exactly the right skill set they’re looking for to run a new club or support an existing one. Many schools also factor in these kinds of contributions when considering professional development or progression.

More than anything, these sections show that you’re a real human being, not just a list of qualifications. In teaching, where empathy, personality, and people skills are everything, that really matters.

Writing a Great Teacher CV Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

With a little structure, some honest reflection, and a bit of help from Scriberly, you can build a teacher CV that opens doors.

We know how overwhelming it can feel when you’re starting from scratch. Whether you’re writing a CV for primary teacher or a leadership CV, it can be tricky to know where to start. Our templates and CV formats for teachers make it easier to create a polished CV without the stress.

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

How Scriberly Can Help

Instead of staring at a blank Word document, let Scriberly do the heavy lifting for you:

Choose from professional CV formats for teachers.

• Get prompts that guide you on exactly what to write.

• Auto-formatting makes your CV ready in minutes.

With Scriberly, you’ll never have to worry about choosing the right CV format for a teacher again. Whether you’re applying for your first teaching role or your next promotion, our simple process ensures you’re always putting your best foot forward.