Teaching is one of the most rewarding and impactful careers in the UK. As a PGCE School Teacher, you play a pivotal role in shaping young minds, delivering quality education, and inspiring the next generation. The role demands excellent classroom management, lesson planning, and the ability to support diverse learning needs. Salaries for PGCE-qualified teachers typically start at around £28,000 for newly qualified teachers and can rise to £45,000 or more for experienced middle or senior management positions in state schools, while private institutions may offer competitive packages. Crafting a standout CV is critical for securing interviews and progressing your teaching career.
Understanding the PGCE School Teacher Role
A PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) School Teacher is expected to deliver engaging lessons across subjects, assess student progress, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to school initiatives. Strong communication skills, subject knowledge, and dedication to student welfare are essential. The CV you submit must reflect your teaching philosophy, classroom achievements, and capacity for leadership where applicable. Using a tailored cv template ensures your application is structured, professional, and tailored to UK education standards.
Why a Strong CV Matters
In the competitive teaching sector, your CV is your first impression. A well-crafted document communicates your competencies, experience, and potential to school leaders. By using a professional cv example, you can highlight your skills, qualifications, and achievements in a manner that resonates with hiring managers. This is particularly important if you are a newly qualified teacher aiming to stand out from other PGCE graduates or a senior professional looking to secure a leadership role.
CV Structure for a PGCE School Teacher
Professional Summary
Open with a concise, compelling summary that highlights your teaching experience, subject expertise, and personal teaching philosophy. Keep it optimistic and forward-looking to immediately capture attention.
Key Skills
Include skills such as classroom management, curriculum planning, student assessment, differentiation strategies, and communication. Keywords such as “PGCE”, “lesson planning”, “student engagement”, and “behaviour management” are critical for both human readers and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Professional Experience
Detail your teaching roles chronologically. Include specific achievements such as improvements in student outcomes, successful implementation of new teaching strategies, or participation in school initiatives. For middle and senior management, focus on leadership, mentoring, and departmental achievements.
Education and Qualifications
List your PGCE and any additional teaching qualifications, including specialisms. Highlight professional development courses or certifications relevant to your teaching subject or leadership role.
Additional Information
Volunteer experience, extracurricular contributions, and technological competencies like Smartboard usage or online teaching tools can be included here.
Advice for Graduate PGCE Teachers
Graduates should focus on transferable skills and academic achievements. Highlight teaching placements, innovative lesson plans, and experience supporting diverse learners. Even if your professional experience is limited, structured cv template use ensures your application is clean, professional, and ATS-friendly.
Advice for Middle and Senior Management
For those aiming for head of department or senior leadership roles, emphasise leadership skills, team management, curriculum oversight, and mentoring. Use quantifiable achievements such as exam result improvements, successful school initiatives, or staff development programs to demonstrate impact.
Do’s and Don’ts on a PGCE School Teacher CV
Do’s:
Tailor your CV to each role you apply for.
Use strong action verbs like “developed”, “implemented”, “mentored”.
Include measurable achievements.
Keep it professional, concise, and clear.
Use a consistent structure and formatting.
Don’ts:
Avoid spelling and grammatical errors.
Don’t include irrelevant personal information.
Avoid long paragraphs; use bullet points for readability.
Don’t exaggerate experience or qualifications.
General Tips to Maximise Your Interview Chances
Keep your CV to 2-3 pages at most.
Use UK spelling conventions.
Include keywords from the job description to pass ATS filters.
Highlight both classroom and extracurricular contributions.
Keep a positive and proactive tone throughout.
Your PGCE School Teacher CV is your gateway to an exciting teaching career. Using a professional cv template not only saves time but positions you as a polished, committed professional. For personalised advice, CV review, and LinkedIn optimisation, I invite you to book an appointment with our expert team today. Together, we can ensure your CV stands out, opens doors to interviews, and accelerates your teaching career.
