Teacher CV Example & Template (2026)

A well‑written teacher CV is the first conversation you have with a hiring panel. Recruiters in schools and academies know exactly what they are looking for, and they can spot a generic or poorly organised CV in seconds. This guide walks you through the structure they expect in 2026, explains what belongs in each part, provides a concise annotated example, and highlights the most frequent mistakes teachers make when presenting their experience.

1. The layout recruiters expect

Section	Typical length	Key purpose
Header	1‑2 lines	Identify you and make it easy to contact you.
Personal profile	3‑4 sentences	Summarise your teaching philosophy and most relevant achievements.
Core competencies	Bullet list (5‑8 items)	Show at a glance the skills that match the job description.
Professional experience	Reverse‑chronological entries	Detail your teaching roles, responsibilities and outcomes.
Education & qualifications	Chronological	List degrees, teaching licences and relevant CPD.
Additional information	Optional	Include publications, conferences, languages, or leadership roles.

Keep the whole document to two pages (unless you have extensive experience beyond ten years). Use a clean, sans‑serif font (e.g., Calibri 11 pt) and generous margins. Headings should be bold and consistent; avoid excessive colour or graphics – they distract rather than add value.

2. What belongs in each section

Header

• Name – larger than the rest of the text.
• Phone number – mobile preferred.
• Email address – a professional address (ideally firstname.lastname@…)
• Location – city and county; you do not need a full postcode.
• LinkedIn URL – optional, but ensure the profile is up‑to‑date.

Personal profile

Write a short paragraph that answers three questions:

1. Who are you as a teacher? (e.g., “A qualified primary teacher with five years of experience…”)
2. What is your main strength or specialism? (e.g., “specialising in inclusive literacy strategies”)
3. What value will you bring to the new school? (e.g., “ready to lead a whole‑class reading programme that improves attainment”).

Avoid clichés such as “hard‑working” or “team player” unless you back them up with evidence later in the CV.

Core competencies

Select keywords from the job advert and list them as bullet points. Typical items for a 2026 teacher role include:

• Differentiated instruction
• Behaviour management (positive reinforcement, restorative practice)
• Data‑driven assessment (progress tracking, formative feedback)
• Digital pedagogy (blended learning, virtual classrooms)
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Curriculum design (national curriculum, local adaptations)
• Parent‑teacher communication

Professional experience

For each role, use a reverse‑chronological format and include:

• Job title – be precise (e.g., “Classroom Teacher – Year 3”).
• School name and location.
• Dates – month and year (e.g., “September 2022 – Present”).
• Key responsibilities – 2‑3 bullet points that describe your day‑to‑day duties.
• Achievements – 2‑3 bullet points that quantify impact where possible (e.g., “Raised Year 3 reading scores by 12 % over two academic years”).

Use active verbs and keep each bullet to a single line where feasible. When you mention numbers, ensure they are accurate and can be verified if asked.

Education & qualifications

List your highest qualifications first. Typical entries for teachers:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – England & Wales, date awarded.
• Post‑graduate certificate/diploma – e.g., PGCE (Merton University, 2020).
• Bachelor of Arts in English – University of Leeds, 2019.
• Additional CPD – safeguarding refresher (2023), digital learning workshop (2024).

Additional information (optional)

Include items that strengthen your application but are not essential for every role:

• Publications – e.g., “Using Augmented Reality to Teach Fractions”, Journal of Primary Education, 2025.
• Conference presentations – name of conference, topic, year.
• Leadership – head of year, mentor of new teachers, chair of curriculum committee.
• Languages – any additional languages spoken fluently.

3. Annotated example (excerpt)

Below is a condensed version of a teacher CV that follows the guidelines above. Comments in brackets are for illustration only; they would not appear in the final document.

Emma Clarke
Mobile: 07456 123 456 | emma.clarke@email.com | London, Greater London
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emmaclarke

Personal profile
Qualified primary teacher with six years’ experience delivering the national curriculum to mixed‑ability classes. Passionate about embedding digital tools to raise literacy outcomes, having led a school‑wide reading initiative that lifted Year 2 attainment by 10 % in one year. Eager to contribute to a forward‑thinking academy that values inclusive practice.

Core competencies
- Differentiated instruction
- Behaviour management (restorative practice)
- Data‑driven assessment
- Blended learning environments
- Safeguarding (DBS cleared)
- Curriculum design (national & local)
- Parent‑teacher communication

Professional experience
Classroom Teacher – Year 2
St Mary’s Primary School, Manchester Sept 2022 – Present
- Plan and deliver daily lessons for a class of 30 pupils, adapting resources for EAL and SEND learners.
- Implement a weekly “Reading Sprint” using tablet‑based programmes; observed a 10 % rise in phonics mastery.
- Lead the Year 2 safeguarding team, conducting monthly risk assessments and training sessions.

Assistant Teacher
Greenfield Academy, Leeds Sept 2019 – June 2022
- Supported lead teacher in delivering KS1 mathematics and English, preparing differentiated worksheets.
- Coordinated the “Eco‑Club”, raising awareness of sustainability and securing a local council grant of £1,200.
- Contributed to the school’s “Digital Literacy” pilot, training staff on the new learning management system.

Education & qualifications
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – England, 2020
PGCE (Primary Education), University of Leeds, 2020
BA (Hons) History, University of Manchester, 2018
Safeguarding Level 2, 2023
Digital Pedagogy Certificate, 2024

Additional information
- Presenter, “AR in Primary Maths”, British Education Conference, 2025.
- Volunteer maths tutor, local community centre, 2021‑present.

Why this works:

• The header is clear and contains only essential contact details.
• The personal profile is concise, mentions a measurable achievement, and aligns with the school’s priorities.
• Core competencies mirror typical recruiter keywords.
• Each role lists responsibilities first, then achievements that demonstrate impact.
• All dates are specific, and the CV stays within two pages.

4. Most common mistakes – and how to avoid them

Mistake	Impact	Remedy
Listing duties without results	Gives the impression of “busy work” rather than impact.	After each responsibility, add a brief achievement that shows change (e.g., “Reduced pupil‑behaviour incidents by 15 %”).
Using vague language (“good communication skills”, “team player”)	Recruiters cannot verify these claims.	Replace with concrete examples (“produced weekly newsletters for parents, increasing engagement by 20 %”).
Including unrelated jobs (e.g., retail work from ten years ago)	Dilutes relevance and wastes space.	Keep only teaching‑related experience or roles that demonstrate transferable skills, and place older unrelated work in an “Other experience” section if truly necessary.
Over‑loading the CV with jargon	Makes the document hard to read and can appear pretentious.	Use plain language; only include terminology that is standard in the sector.
Formatting inconsistencies (different bullet styles, misaligned dates)	Looks unprofessional and may be rejected by applicant‑tracking systems.	Adopt a single style for headings, bullet points and dates; proofread with a template.
Leaving gaps in the timeline	Raises questions about career continuity.	If you have a short break (e.g., parental leave), note it briefly (“Career break – parental leave, 2021‑2022”).
Failing to tailor the CV	A generic CV may miss key words the recruiter is scanning for.	Use the job advert to adjust the core competencies and highlight the most relevant achievements for each application.
Including inaccurate dates or figures	Can be uncovered during reference checks and damage credibility.	Double‑check every date, percentage and award; be ready to discuss them in an interview.

5. Final checklist before you hit send

• Header contains up‑to‑date phone, email and location.
• Personal profile is three to four sentences and mentions a measurable achievement.
• Core competencies reflect the language of the job advert.
• Each experience entry follows the responsibility‑then‑achievement pattern.
• All dates are consistent (month year).
• No spelling or grammar errors – run a spell‑check and read aloud.
• Document is saved as a PDF named “Emma_Clarke_Teacher_CV.pdf”.
• You have used the free Ryser tool to tailor your CV free and ensure the wording aligns with the specific role.

By adhering to this structure and avoiding the pitfalls outlined, your teacher CV will present a clear, honest picture of your abilities and achievements. Recruiters will be able to see at a glance why you are the right fit for their school, and you’ll feel confident heading into the interview stage. Good luck!