Creating a stand-out primary school teacher CV requires more than just talking about your teaching experience. Let’s look at how to craft the perfect CV to get you started.
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Primary school teachers have a passion for early childhood development, encouraging student engagement in learning new subjects and developing bright and inviting lesson plans. Primary education is a lot different from middle school or high school, with good teachers taking different learning styles into account and adjusting lesson plans accordingly.
A primary or early years school teacher CV focuses more on certifications and education compared to other types of CVs. Many schools depend on their teachers to have the classroom management training and licences necessary to foster a safe and productive learning environment. This is especially true for special education classes, which will require extra training in diverse behaviour management and teaching approaches.
A primary or elementary school teacher CV focuses more on certifications and education compared to other types of CVs. Many schools depend on their teachers to have the classroom management training and licences necessary to foster a safe and productive learning environment. This is especially true for special education classes, which will require extra training in diverse behaviour management and teaching approaches.
H2: Structure of a primary school teacher CV
The basic CV format includes a neat header with contact information, a CV summary, and sections for skills, work experience, education and certifications.
The header should contain all of the following contact information:
The professional summary is a two- to three-sentence summary paragraph, from 30-60 words, located at the top of your CV that summarises your relevant teaching skills and work history. Hiring managers review dozens of applications each day, so a CV summary can be a great way to showcase particularly relevant skills and shine as a candidate.
Alternatively for more entry-level applicants or positions, a career objective can be used. A career objective is constructed as a professional summary with the addition of goals and what you are wanting to accomplish with your CV. Include any General Certificate of Education GCSEs or degree certificates.
The skills section should be organised in a short bullet point list. This gives recruiters a glimpse into what kind of teacher you are. Placing the right skills on your CV is important because applicant tracking systems (ATS) will often scan CVs before a human sees it. By choosing relevant skills from the job description to use as keywords, you can increase your chances of your CV being noticed by the right people.
Some skills to consider for your CV include:
Any teaching experience you have, including any student teacher experience, is a plus. Many education college courses contain an entry-level student teacher programme. In these programmes your college partners you with a public school in your area. Being a student teacher or teacher assistant exposes you to the classroom environment and provides you with important ways to develop your own teaching methods for the future. By the time you graduate, you might already have years of experience under your belt.
Your student teacher experiences do not necessarily have to be within the primary education field. If you taught secondary school or college/sixth form, you can also add this experience to your CV.
The education section carries more weight in an education CV than CVs for other jobs. The minimum degree a primary school teacher should hold is a bachelor’s degree in education.
Teachers of all levels will also need specific certifications and licences before they are even considered for a teaching position. These certifications and licences differ depending on the country and area you live in. Teaching certifications that are valid in one area might not apply to another, so you will want to take extra care to research licencing laws in any country or area to which you plan to move.
Hannah Smith
789 Main Street
Manchester, England 12345
(555) 555-5555
hannah.smith@example.com
Professional summary
Energetic primary school teacher with extensive academic experience. Works with students to assess needs and creates unique lesson plans to meet diverse learning paths. Strong communicator and proven leader with classroom management skills.
Skills
Work Experience
Primary Teacher, Example School, September 2021 – December 2021, Manchester, England
Primary Teacher, Example School, Jan 2021 – Jun 2021, Cardiff, WLS
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Education, May 202
Example University – Cardiff, WLS
Certifications
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, May 2021
If you are applying for a teaching position, then you will need the appropriate licence. Fortunately, many undergraduate teaching preparation programmes offer the opportunity to earn the certification at the same time you’re earning your degree.
Writing a cover letter, even if it is listed as optional, is always a good idea. The cover letter can give further information to a hiring manager about why you are the perfect fit for the role. It can also make you stand out in comparison to other candidates who did not write one.
CVHelp offers plenty of CV templates and tips on CV formatting. CVHelp also has a handy CV builder tool that can help you build the best CV for your next job in just a few minutes!