The role of a Primary School Teacher is one of the most rewarding and influential professions in the UK. Shaping young minds, inspiring curiosity, and instilling a love of learning are at the very heart of this career. As a Primary School Teacher, you are responsible for planning and delivering lessons across the core national curriculum subjects, monitoring progress, providing pastoral support, and collaborating with parents and colleagues to ensure pupils achieve their full potential. Salaries typically start around £30,000 for new teachers in England, rising to £41,000 with experience, while senior leadership roles can command £60,000 or more depending on the location and school. With such competition for teaching posts, it is vital that your application stands out – and that begins with a carefully structured, compelling CV.
I’ve spent over 25 years helping education professionals, graduates, and senior leaders create interview-winning CVs, and I want to share with you exactly how to craft a Primary School Teacher CV template that will showcase your strengths and maximise your chances of landing that dream teaching role.
Why your Primary School Teacher CV is so important
Your CV is your personal marketing document. It’s the very first impression you give to a Headteacher, HR manager, or recruiter scanning through dozens of applications. A well-designed cv template and a clearly structured cv example tailored for a Primary School Teacher role demonstrates your professionalism, teaching ability, and passion for education before you’ve even stepped into the interview room.
Understanding what schools are looking for
Primary Schools across the UK seek teachers who can:
Deliver engaging and inclusive lessons across key stages 1 and 2
Demonstrate strong classroom management and pastoral care
Show creativity in lesson planning, with measurable impact on pupil progress
Collaborate effectively with colleagues, parents, and support staff
Contribute to extracurricular activities and whole-school initiatives
Stay up to date with safeguarding policies and continuous professional development
Your Primary School Teacher CV must reflect these expectations while highlighting your own unique qualities.
How to structure your Primary School Teacher CV
Here’s a proven cv template structure that works across the education sector:
Contact details – Full name, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn link.
Professional profile – A short, powerful paragraph that sells your teaching experience, skills, and enthusiasm.
Key skills – Bullet-pointed teaching skills such as curriculum planning, differentiation, behaviour management, and safeguarding.
Career history – Reverse chronological format, outlining job titles, schools, dates, and impactful achievements.
Education and training – Degrees, PGCE/QTS, safeguarding courses, and CPD.
Achievements and extracurricular contributions – Clubs, school trips, mentoring, and wider initiatives.
References – “Available on request” is perfectly acceptable.
Writing a winning professional profile
Your profile should be optimistic, enthusiastic, and evidence-based. For example:
“Dedicated and inspirational Primary School Teacher with over 5 years’ experience delivering engaging lessons across KS1 and KS2. Skilled in fostering inclusive learning environments, raising attainment, and building strong relationships with parents and colleagues. Passionate about developing children’s confidence, creativity, and love of learning.”
This short introduction sets the tone and encourages the recruiter to read on.
Highlighting key teaching skills
Make sure your skills section is tailored. Some of the best keywords to include in your cv example are:
Curriculum planning and assessment
Differentiation and personalised learning
Classroom management
Safeguarding and child protection
Pastoral care
SEN support
Team collaboration
ICT in education
Creativity and innovation
These keywords also help optimise your CV for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), ensuring your application gets noticed.
Showcasing achievements in your career history
When writing your career history, avoid simply listing duties. Instead, focus on achievements and measurable outcomes. For instance:
“Raised literacy attainment by 20% in Year 4 through creative phonics strategies.”
“Introduced a peer-mentoring scheme improving confidence and behaviour across KS2.”
“Successfully integrated ICT into daily lessons, boosting engagement and digital literacy.”
By presenting tangible results, your cv template proves your teaching impact.
Education and professional development
Employers need to see that you are fully qualified and committed to lifelong learning. List your degrees, PGCE or equivalent, QTS status, and CPD such as safeguarding, SEN training, or subject-specific courses. This demonstrates your dedication to both personal and professional growth.
Advice for graduates entering teaching
If you are a graduate or Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT), you may feel you lack classroom experience. The key is to highlight:
Teaching placements during your PGCE
Voluntary work in schools, tutoring, or mentoring
Transferable skills such as organisation, communication, and adaptability
Passion for working with children and a commitment to professional development
Remember, enthusiasm and potential can often outweigh years of experience, especially when supported by a strong cv template.
Advice for middle and senior management teachers
If you are applying for roles such as Head of Year, Assistant Headteacher, or Deputy Head, your cv example must go beyond classroom teaching. You should:
Demonstrate leadership and strategic planning experience
Show how you have improved whole-school performance or standards
Highlight your ability to mentor colleagues and develop teams
Include evidence of successful project management or curriculum development
Mention budget responsibility or policy creation if applicable
At this level, schools want leaders who can inspire staff and students while delivering measurable results.
General CV tips for teachers
Here are some timeless CV tips that apply to all teaching levels:
Keep your CV clear, concise, and no longer than two pages.
Use action verbs such as delivered, improved, achieved, implemented, led.
Avoid jargon – use clear, professional language.
Tailor your CV to each job description.
Use consistent formatting, professional fonts, and logical spacing.
Proofread carefully – spelling mistakes can ruin first impressions.
Back up claims with measurable achievements.
The do’s and don’ts of a Primary School Teacher CV
Do:
Tailor every CV to the specific school and job description.
Show passion for teaching and commitment to safeguarding.
Include extracurricular activities that highlight your wider contributions.
Demonstrate impact with evidence and measurable outcomes.
Don’t:
Overload your CV with irrelevant detail or long paragraphs.
Include outdated qualifications or unrelated work history.
Use clichés such as “hardworking” without examples.
Forget to include a covering letter tailored to the school.
Optimising your CV for success
As someone who has coached countless teaching professionals, I cannot stress enough the importance of a polished and tailored Primary School Teacher CV template. When done right, your CV will not only secure interviews but also position you as a strong, confident, and passionate candidate who can make a real difference in children’s lives.
Final words of encouragement
The teaching profession is one of the noblest and most rewarding career paths. Schools are always looking for enthusiastic, professional, and dedicated teachers. With a strategically structured cv template and carefully written cv example, you can put yourself in the best possible position to shine.
And remember, you don’t have to do this alone. With over 25 years of experience as a UK-based career coach, I specialise in helping teachers at all levels – from graduates to senior leaders – create CVs and LinkedIn profiles that open doors.
If you want expert support in transforming your CV into an interview-winning document, I invite you to book an appointment today. Let’s work together to refine your CV, boost your LinkedIn presence, and help you stand out in the competitive teaching job market.
👉 Book an appointment now with CV London and take the next step toward your dream teaching role.
