English Teacher CV example

Just like a strong opening chapter draws a reader in, your CV should hook employers from the start. They want to see your passion and the positive impact you’ve made in schools.

This guide will walk you through writing a CV clearly, tailoring it to your subject and school type, and will enable you to highlight the value you bring to students and staff.

A structured CV shows you know how to present information clearly – something every good English teacher can appreciate. Employers should be able to find your qualifications, experience, and specialisms without digging through dense paragraphs.

Here’s how your CV should be laid out:

• Name and contact details – Keep your name and personal details front and centre at the top. Whether or not to include a photo is your decision.
• Profile – Start with a snapshot of your skills, career highlights, and professional aspirations.
• Core skills – Focus on your most important and tangible strengths, making it easy for employers to see your key strengths at a glance.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education – Outline your education and certifications, focusing on those most relevant to the role like your degree.
• Additional info – Optionally add any additional details, like awards, professional memberships, or hobbies that highlight your skills or personality.

Use bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements clearly – just like you’d advise students to structure their ideas in essays. Divide your format into clearly labelled sections, with a readable font. And finally, keep your CV to a maximum of two pages long – concise enough to hold attention, but detailed enough to demonstrate your strengths in full. Keeping these tips in mind will avoid any distracting visual errors.

Your CV profile sits at the top of your CV and acts as your personal introduction. It should quickly convey who you are as a teacher, the level and type of experience you have, and the kind of educator you aim to be. Think of it as your teaching ethos in a few short lines – balanced between professional credentials and a clear sense of purpose.

Here’s what to include:

• Where you’ve worked – Mention the types of schools you’ve taught in – primary, secondary, academy, international, etc.
• Your top qualifications – Highlight your PGCE, QTS, and English-related degree(s).
• Essential skills – Include strengths such as curriculum planning, classroom management, and differentiation.
• Experience preparing students for assessments – E.g. GCSEs, A-Levels, or international qualifications.
• Literacy intervention or pastoral support work – Mention any broader contributions you’ve made to student wellbeing or literacy development.

This section should be a greatest hits list – what you bring to the classroom and why it matters. Highlight skills that help students succeed – and help departments run smoothly. Your CV skills should be tailored to each application by matching it to the job advert and the school’s priorities.

You might include areas such as KS3/KS4 delivery, creative writing instruction, EAL support, exam preparation, SEN differentiation, or using data to track progress. Keep the list sharp and relevant.

Your work experience section should give a clear picture of your teaching journey so far. From lesson delivery and marking to whole-school initiatives and parent communication, show how you’ve contributed to learning environments and supported pupil progress.

List your roles from most recent to oldest, including job title, school name, and dates. Use bullet points to break down each role into your key responsibilities and successes – especially if they relate to exam outcomes or engagement strategies.

• Outline – Introduce the school, year groups taught, and your teaching role.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “delivered,” “designed,” “assessed,” or “differentiated.”
• Achievements – Highlight measurable outcomes, such as improved exam results, literacy gains, or Ofsted feedback.

A strong academic and training background is vital for teaching roles. Use this section to list your degrees (especially in English or Literature), teacher training, and QTS or equivalent education.

Start with the most recent and relevant. You can also include safeguarding training, literacy CPD, or exam board assessor experience if applicable. Make sure you keep the focus on your work experience, as recruiters value it more highly.