As a UK-based career coach of over 25 years, I’ve helped thousands of educators—from fresh graduates to seasoned Heads of Department—build CVs that open doors to outstanding teaching opportunities. A Secondary School Teacher plays an essential role in shaping the academic, social, and emotional development of young people aged 11–16 or 11–18. The job typically involves planning and delivering engaging lessons, assessing pupil progress, supporting pastoral needs, collaborating with colleagues, maintaining high classroom standards, and contributing to the wider school community.
In the UK, a Secondary School Teacher’s salary usually ranges from £30,000 to £46,525 depending on location and experience, with additional TLR payments for responsibilities such as subject leadership or pastoral roles. With schools seeking adaptable, student-focused, and curriculum-aware professionals, a well-structured CV that highlights your impact, leadership, and classroom excellence is essential to winning interviews.
Below, I’ll guide you through creating an interview-winning Secondary School Teacher CV, offer an example template, and share expert advice tailored for graduates, experienced teachers, and those progressing to middle or senior management. Let’s make your CV work as hard as you do.
Why a Powerful Secondary School Teacher CV Matters More Than Ever
In today’s competitive education market, your CV isn’t just a formal record. It’s your personal marketing tool—the first crucial stage in demonstrating your teaching impact, classroom management expertise, safeguarding awareness, and curriculum knowledge. Schools are looking for evidence of strong behaviour management, measurable pupil progress, curriculum planning excellence, differentiation strategies, and your ability to contribute positively to whole-school initiatives.
A professionally crafted CV showcases your strengths, embeds those winning SEO keywords recruiters search for, and positions you as a confident, capable educator ready to add real value from day one.
How to Write an Interview-Winning Secondary School Teacher CV
A successful Secondary School Teacher CV should be clear, concise, achievement-focused, and tailored to each school you apply to. Use strong action verbs, include real classroom impact, and think about what differentiates you—your teaching style, specialist training, leadership experience, or extracurricular contributions.
The best CVs focus on outcomes: improved grades, raised attainment, reduced behaviour incidents, successful SEN differentiation strategies, parental engagement improvements, and curriculum initiatives delivered.
Below is a template you can adapt right away.
Secondary School Teacher CV Template Example
(Feel free to customise this to your own style; keep everything to 2 pages.)
Name | Secondary School Teacher
Location | Phone | Email | LinkedIn | Optional: Portfolio/Teaching Evidence Folder
Professional Profile
A dedicated, inspiring, and innovative Secondary School Teacher with a proven track record of raising attainment, delivering high-quality lessons, and supporting diverse learners through engaging and differentiated teaching strategies. Experienced in behaviour management, curriculum planning, progress tracking, safeguarding, and fostering a supportive, challenging learning environment. Passionate about helping all students achieve their full potential and contributing positively to whole-school development.
Key Skills & Competencies
Behaviour management
KS3/KS4/KS5 curriculum planning
Assessment & progress tracking
SEN differentiation strategies
Safeguarding & child protection
Strong classroom communication
Positive behaviour strategies
Pastoral support & mentoring
GCSE preparation & exam techniques
Data analysis to improve attainment
Parental engagement
Extracurricular contribution
Career Experience
Secondary School Teacher – School Name, Location | Dates
Planned and delivered engaging lessons aligned to KS3 and KS4 curriculum requirements, achieving consistently strong pupil progress.
Used assessment data to inform personalised interventions, resulting in measurable improvements in attainment.
Implemented strong behaviour management strategies, contributing to a calm, structured classroom environment.
Communicated effectively with parents and carers, strengthening home-school relationships.
Supported whole-school initiatives, contributing to curriculum development or pastoral programmes.
Integrated technology and creative resources to enhance learning experiences.
Previous Role – Job Title, School/Organisation | Dates
Highlight responsibilities, achievements, measurable progress, or additional extracurricular contributions.
Education & Qualifications
PGCE/Schools Direct/PGDE – Provider, Year
QTS – Year Awarded
Degree – Subject, University, Year
A-levels/GCSEs (Optional list)
Professional Development
Safeguarding & Child Protection Training
Behaviour Management Courses
SEN & Inclusion CPD
Subject-specific training (e.g., Science CPD, English curriculum updates, Maths mastery etc.)
Any relevant leadership training
Additional Information
Enhanced DBS (On the Update Service if applicable)
Right to work in the UK
Languages
Extracurricular contributions
References
Available upon request.
General Tips for an Interview-Winning Secondary School Teacher CV
Keep it to two pages maximum.
Use strong, confident statements that focus on impact and achievement.
Avoid vague clichés—focus on real contributions.
Use teaching-specific keywords recruiters expect (behaviour management, GCSE, safeguarding, differentiation, SEN support, pastoral care).
Ensure your CV layout is clean, consistent and professional.
Tailor each application to the school’s ethos, Ofsted report, and curriculum priorities.
Include quantifiable results wherever possible.
Ideal CV Structure for Teachers
Header with Contact Details
Professional Profile
Key Skills
Career Experience
Education & Teacher Training
Professional Development
Additional Information
References (optional)
This structure is ATS-friendly and ensures recruiters find the information they need quickly.
Advice for Graduates or Newly Qualified Teachers
If you’re a graduate or Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT/ECT), focus on:
School placements: highlight achievements, strategies applied, SEN experience, lesson planning, and outcomes.
Strengths: enthusiasm, reflective practice, passion for teaching.
Transferable skills from part-time jobs or volunteering: communication, teamwork, leadership, mentoring.
Extracurricular contributions: clubs, sports, mentoring, student support.
Schools love proactive, enthusiastic trainees—so make sure your profile shines with potential and commitment.
Advice for Middle Leadership Applicants (KS/Subject Leads)
For aspiring or current middle leaders, focus on:
Leadership experience: leading a team, mentoring colleagues, managing data.
Curriculum design and delivery achievements.
Evidence of raising attainment across a department.
Successful interventions or behaviour strategies implemented.
Contributions to school improvement, CPD delivery, or policy development.
Quantifiable examples are vital: “Raised department GCSE results by 14% over two years…”
Advice for Senior Leadership Applicants
If you’re stepping into Assistant Head, Deputy Head, or Headteacher roles, emphasise:
Whole-school strategic leadership.
Safeguarding leadership.
Data-driven decision-making.
Staff development and CPD leadership.
Improved outcomes across year groups or subject areas.
Behaviour, inclusion, SEND or pastoral improvements.
Leading change during challenging periods.
Your CV must demonstrate influence beyond the classroom.
The Do’s and Don’ts for a Secondary School Teacher CV
Do:
Keep content honest, authentic, and evidence-based.
Use powerful verbs like led, implemented, increased, introduced, designed, delivered, supported.
Highlight safeguarding training clearly.
Tailor each CV to the specific school.
Include measurable improvements and outcomes.
Don’t:
Don’t include long paragraphs—break text into clear bullet points.
Don’t list generic responsibilities without showing impact.
Don’t add outdated or irrelevant jobs with no teaching relevance.
Don’t use overly decorative designs or colours—schools prefer clarity.
Don’t forget to proofread.
Final Thoughts – And How to Guarantee Your CV Stands Out
Creating a compelling Secondary School Teacher CV is about far more than listing duties. It’s about presenting your teaching impact, your passion, and your ability to elevate student progress and contribute meaningfully to school life. Whether you’re an ECT, an experienced teacher, or a leader aiming for your next step, you deserve a CV and LinkedIn profile that reflects your true strengths.
If you’d like expert, personalised help to perfect your CV, sharpen your teaching achievements, and position yourself for more interviews, I’d love to support you. With over 25 years of career coaching experience, I specialise in transforming educator CVs into powerful, interview-winning documents.
👉 Book your professional CV and LinkedIn upgrade today:
https://www.cvlondon.net/book-an-appointment/
I look forward to helping you advance confidently to the next stage of your teaching career.
or……
Land Your Dream Teaching Job—With a CV & Cover Letter That Stand Out Instantly
Ready to secure more interviews and get noticed by school administrators? Download our professionally written, fully editable Secondary School Teacher CV and Cover Letter—designed to showcase your skills, experience, and passion for education with maximum impact.
Why You’ll Love This CV & Cover Letter Bundle:
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Written by recruitment-savvy experts who know exactly what schools look for—clear structure, measurable achievements, and a strong teaching philosophy.
✨ Fully Editable & Ready to Use
Instantly downloadable in easy-to-edit formats (Word/Google Docs). Customize in minutes—no design or writing skills needed.
✨ ATS-Friendly Layout
Pass Applicant Tracking Systems with clean formatting optimized for modern school hiring processes.
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Showcase classroom management, subject expertise, student achievement, curriculum development, differentiation strategies, safeguarding knowledge, and more—effortlessly.
✨ Saves You Hours of Writing Stress
Stop staring at a blank page. Start applying with confidence, using documents polished to professional standards.
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Powerful language, clean visuals, and strategic formatting that make your application stand out in a crowded field.
Download today—make your next job application your strongest one yet.
Start turning opportunities into job offers with a CV and cover letter that work for you.
