personal statement for teaching job application

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How to write the perfect teaching personal statement

Application and interview, tes editorial.

When applying for a new job, you may be competing with tens or hundreds of other applicants in a race for the role.

The HR manager or headteacher recruiting for the job will be scrutinising every detail of your application to make sure they are bringing in the right people for interview.

The application form is the first hurdle you have to get over and sets the first impression of you as a person in the recruiter’s mind.

• Advice on honing your job search
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The personal statement: why does it matter? 

The personal statement presents the perfect opportunity to show you are an exceptional candidate, understand teaching and know the school you are applying to.

It is not an easy task and is a tricky thing to get right. It requires being concise and clear – it shouldn’t be too long or read like a list.

You should talk about yourself and your professional achievements, while at the same time apply those experiences to the school itself.

We spoke to Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders , about what goes into the perfect personal statement. Here's what he said:

What does a great teaching personal statement look like?

"In general, I would say no longer than two sides of A4 – typescript. It needs to be well structured and linked to the specific school. It will need to include a number of key areas, including behavioural management, educational philosophy, subject expertise, pedagogy, personal organisation and skills and enrichment activities that the candidate can bring."

What should it contain?

"I would recommend that candidates include three elements in each of the key areas:

• What their beliefs/philosophy/approach is – i.e., the theory
• Their experience in that area
• How they would use that experience in the school they are applying to and specific to the job they are applying for

The statement should also include something personal in terms of their outside interests to indicate that they live an interesting and well-balanced life."

What are school leaders looking to read in a good personal statement?

"They will want to see something of the person’s character come through. It must not be just a list of achievements or repeat of the CV. It needs to be well-written, error-free and mention the school they are applying for – but not too many times. It should read as if it has been specifically written for the school and job they are applying for. I would be looking for something similar to the approach I have indicated above, covering all of the key areas and indicating that they have a vocation for working with young people. Somehow I would like to see a ‘generosity of spirit’ come through in the statement."

How can a candidate stand out in a personal statement?

"A good personal statement needs to include something of the person themselves. It has to make the reader believe that the candidate has something special without bragging or appearing arrogant – but something a bit above what other candidates may offer. A really good introduction and ending are important, and it's worth spending a great deal of time crafting those sections of the statement. Hook the reader in at the beginning and finish on a high note so that they want to meet the person and explore what has been written."

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Free Examples of Effective Teaching Personal Statement

Table of Contents

The personal statement is an important part of the teaching application process. It allows you to provide information about yourself that doesn’t appear in your resume or transcripts.

When writing your personal statement, be sure to focus on the qualities that make you a good teacher. Before giving you  examples of personal statements for teaching jobs , we have a few tips to help you.

Important Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for a Teaching Job

When creating your personal statement , it’s important to remember why you want to become a teacher. We dive further into this and more in this section of the article.

Start With Why You Chose Teaching As a Profession

What do you love about teaching? What drives you? Define what makes a great teacher for you and explain how your experiences have prepared you for this career.

Be specific and honest in describing both your strengths and weaknesses as they relate to teaching. Ultimately, the goal is for the recruiter to understand why you’re the best choice for the job.

Explain How You Have Developed This Passion

Your statement should explain how you developed your passion for teaching. Choosing teaching as a profession isn’t enough. How did you nurture this passion?

Describe Any Experience You Have Had Working With Students

You need to describe your previous experience working with students. Doing this helps demonstrate your ability to handle students and work in a school environment.

Highlight Your Strengths and Skills As They Relate to Teaching

Don’t be shy to highlight your teaching strengths and skills. You’re competing with others for the job. Only qualified candidates with skills related to the job get interviewed. Highlight any experience or qualifications that are relevant to the role.

Tailor the Statement to the Job Description

Like any job opening, be sure to read the job description. This helps ensure you tailor your personal statement specifically for the position you’re applying for . 

It is unbecoming for a teacher to submit a statement full of errors. Proofread and edit your statement carefully before submitting it.

Examples of Personal Statements for Teaching Jobs

We have some of the best examples of personal statements for teaching jobs for you. Read through to see what your personal statement should look like.

Teaching has been a lifelong passion of mine. I began working with children as soon as I was old enough to volunteer in my local Sunday school program. Since then, I have continued to work with students of all ages in many different settings, including public schools, after-school programs and summer camps. My experience has taught me that nothing is more rewarding than helping young people learn and grow. 

I am confident that my skills and passion for teaching would make me an excellent educator. In addition to having classroom experience, I possess strong organizational and communication skills, which are essential for successfully managing a classroom environment.

Above all, however, what makes me an ideal teacher is my dedication to the success of each individual student. Every child deserves the opportunity to find their own unique strengths and passions. It is my goal as a teacher always be there to help them discover these things within themselves.

I am a compassionate and dedicated teacher with years of experience in the field. Above all, I believe that teaching is not simply a profession. Rather, it is a calling that allows me to share my knowledge and help others learn and grow. 

My approach is student-centered. I adapt my instruction to meet their unique needs while fostering an environment where they can feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. In addition to having strong classroom management skills, I have a proven track record of developing engaging curricula tailored for students at different levels. Ultimately, I view teaching as an opportunity not only to impart important academic knowledge but instill lifelong values such as curiosity, resilience, and compassion.

It’s always nerve-racking to go through the application process for a teaching job. If you put some thought into it, it becomes easier. Focus on what’s important: the skills, strengths, and experience that make you right for the job. 

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Writing a Personal Statement

Going for your first NQT post can be a daunting prospect... especially when in teaching, you need to write a personal statement to support your application form.

Schools use your personal statement to help short list candidates for a position by checking off the criteria of the person specification that they can see in your statement. It is always a good idea to write your personal statement alongside the person specification, ensuring that you have included all the "essential" criteria and as much of the "desirable" criteria you can that are assessed through the application.

Where possible, you should also use the language of the school you are applying to - their vision, values, mission and ethos statements will help you here and should be available on the school's website. You will also sometimes find these in the application pack. Read this carefully and then read it again, reading between the lines of what they might be looking for.

Here is an example of the structure of a personal statement for a trainee teacher applying for their first NQT job:

Begin with an impact statement that summarises your philosophy on teaching or that refers to the mission/vision/values/ethos of the school you are applying to:

I believe that it is, as Einstein said, the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. As a passionate teacher, dedicated to ensuring the very best outcomes for all students I teach, this statement resonates with me as I endeavour to awaken joy in all of the learners within my classroom. It was your belief all young people have the right to a transformational educational experience, that will enable them, no matter what their starting point, to fulfil their potential and realise their ambitions that first attracted me to your school as it aligns with my own personal and professional philosophy on education.

Throughout my practice, I constantly encourage pupils to participate and contribute in an atmosphere highly conducive to learning. I have consistently set high expectations of pupils in different training contexts. There are high levels of mutual respect between me and pupils. I am very effective in promoting learners’ resilience, confidence and independence when tackling challenging activities. In my lesson, I generate high levels of enthusiasm, participation and commitment to learning.

Back this up with an example from your training.

I have also assumed a high level of responsibility for the attainment progress and outcomes of the pupils I have taught. I have demonstrated confident judgement in planning for pupil progression both within individual lessons and over time and I am able to articulate a clear and well-justified rationale as to how I am building on prior achievement. Within my lessons, I seek to actively promote engaging and effective methods that support pupils in reflecting on their learning. I have demonstrated that I am able to set appropriately challenging tasks, drawing on a sound knowledge of the pupils’ prior attainment, which has been obtained through systematic and accurate assessment. I regularly create opportunities for independent and autonomous learning. As a result the majority of pupils make very good progress.

In order to plan effective lessons, I draw on my in-depth subject and curriculum knowledge of [your subject or phase] to plan confidently for progression and to stimulate and capture pupils’ interest. Throughout my training, I have demonstrated very well-developed pedagogical subject knowledge, by anticipating common errors and misconceptions in my planning. I am astutely aware of my own development needs in relation to extending and updating my subject, curriculum and pedagogical knowledge in my early career and have been proactive in developing these effectively during my training. I always model very high standards of written and spoken communication in all professional activities. I also successfully identify and exploit opportunities to develop learners’ skills, in communication, reading and writing.

I plan lessons that often use well-chosen, imaginative and creative strategies, and that match individuals’ needs and interests. I am highly reflective in critically evaluating my practice. I am able to accurately judge the impact of my practice on individual and groups of learners and can use my evaluation to inform future planning, teaching and learning. During my training, I have shown initiative in contributing to curriculum planning and developing and producing effective learning resources in my placement settings.

I have been able to quickly and accurately discern my learners’ strengths and needs and I have been proactive in differentiating and employing a range of effective intervention strategies to secure progression for individuals and groups. I have an astute understanding of how effective different teaching approaches are in relation to impact on learning and engagement of learners

I can confidently and accurately assess pupils’ attainment against national benchmarks. I use a range of assessment strategies very effectively in my day-to-day practice to monitor progress and to inform future planning. In my practice, I systematically and effectively check learners’ understanding throughout lessons, anticipating where intervention may be needed and do so with notable impact on the quality of learning. I have shown that I am able to assess learners’ progress regularly and work with them to accurately target further improvement and secure rapid progress.

I have been able to rapidly adapt to the different circumstances in which I have trained, working confidently within the frameworks established in different settings and applying rules and routines consistently and fairly. I have also demonstrated an ability to adapt to remote working and remote delivery in response to the Global Pandemic. I consistently have high expectations and understand a range of strategies that experienced teachers use to promote positive behaviour and apply these very effectively, including use of school sanctions and rewards, and use of praise, in order to create an environment highly supportive of learning. I am able to manage pupil behaviour with ease so that learners display very high levels of engagement, courtesy, collaboration and co-operation. Where it is needed, I actively seek additional support in addressing the needs of pupils where significantly challenging behaviour is demonstrated.

During my training, I have been proactive in seeking out opportunities to contribute in a significant way to the wider life and ethos of the school. I have built strong professional relationships and have demonstrated that I am able to work collaboratively with colleagues on a regular basis. I have taken responsibility for deploying support staff in my lessons and for seeking advice from relevant professionals in relation to pupils with individual needs. I deliberately seek out opportunities to develop my own professional learning and respond positively to all the feedback I receive. I have also demonstrated that I can communicate very effectively, both verbally and in writing, with parents and carers in relation to pupils’ achievements and well-being when required to do so formally, but I am also proactive in communicating in relation to individual pupils’ emergent needs.

I always treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher's professional position. I realise the need to safeguard pupils' well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions. I show tolerance of and respect for the rights of others. I do not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. I always ensure that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils' vulnerability or might lead them to break the law. I am always punctual and have good attendance. I have attended numerous CPD sessions and will continue to do so. I have also completed a weekly duty (before school and at break} and attends daily briefings (whole school, subject or pastoral). I have taken on board the policies of the school and maintain a high standard in all my practices. I have a good understanding of the framework within which I work and my professional duties

End with a statement that implies/assumes you will be invited for interview:

I would relish the opportunity to work at your school and look forward to discussing this further with you at interview.

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Teaching personal statement example.

My lifetime goal and aspiration since a young age has been to become a school teacher. While I was in school, I had a favourite teacher whose impactful teaching inspired my interest. Her kindness, genuine appreciation for me, and unique teaching style sparked my passion for becoming an educator. I always want to work with children as I care for them a lot. I always find it interesting to handle children. I can understand well their situation. During my time in school, my principal noticed my rapport with younger students and suggested I assist primary teachers. Engaging with the kids and their fondness towards me inspired me to start teaching. I was able to assist the children in reading, helping them with words that they think are difficult. Witnessing their growth and fostering their self-confidence was immensely rewarding. I just loved having the responsibility of supervising children.

I used to teach my younger brother from kindergarten to fourth grade. He felt most comfortable learning from me within our family. Sometimes, when I had exams, I couldn't teach him, and surprisingly, his grades did not improve during those times. However, whenever I resumed teaching him, his results became excellent, catching everyone's attention. I felt incredibly proud. I recall how my brother wasn't very interested in Bengali initially, but my teaching approach motivated him to study harder, eventually achieving the highest marks in his class.

I have a fondness for children and believe that they can be taught vital and valuable life lessons during their time in primary school which will then help them to grow emotionally and mentally into mature young people. It is this that I want to be a part of, the progression to their success. I remember as a child the amount of respect that teachers earned from their classes which drove me to learn in primary school. I'm extremely passionate about having a big input into a young person's life and making a difference. it is my ambition to become a good role model for the next generation. I am a responsible, hard-working and friendly girl who is known for my strong passion to attain a career as a primary school teacher. I firmly believe that in order to become a great teacher, the desire to help and assist children should be there. The learning process can be tough and challenging, which is one of the reasons that I really love about this profession.

I completed an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Business Management. I learned independently through online classes. I went to university for Business Management but realized it wasn't right for me. The course didn't make me happy. My inner self urged me to follow my true passion. I discovered I love teaching children the most and being around them brings me joy and real happiness. I'm good at talking with people and making things easy to understand. At work, I learned a lot and got inspired. People know me for being friendly and reliable, and I love taking on challenges. In my role at work, I am responsible for providing initial training to new employees. Colleagues find me approachable, and I have a knack for explaining things in a way that's easy for them to understand. I genuinely enjoy teaching people new things. I have great communication skills and work well with others, but I can also do things on my own. When things get busy, I stay organized and always meet goals on time.

The new lessons going to be learned from this program can make me further more suitable and stronger to take up teaching as profession in primary school. Definitely, I will use wisely my past experience to gather more knowledge from this program and groom myself as a best teacher for the primary school. All my past experiences and this current one will help me to explore new heights in your program and I am going to be a special student among the program for sure too.

I feel that my experience and enthusiasm for Primary teaching would make this a fulfilling and rewarding career. I am very much looking forward to expanding my practical and theoretical knowledge by attending university. In pursuing a degree in teaching, I seek to advance my knowledge and work to achieve my life ambition. I believe I have the commitment, patience and persistence to succeed. My teaching practice has confirmed my belief that teaching is one of the most challenging, demanding, exhausting but varied and exciting careers there are. look forward to university and ultimately having a job that is so important and a vital part of so many young lives.

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How to write a great personal statement for a teaching job.

Joanne Doherty

19 Dec 2024, 09:57

Discover our top tips on what to include in your personal statement for a teaching job and how to present your skills, knowledge, experience and attributes.

In partnership with:

Your personal statement is the heart of your application for work as an early career teacher and should be tailored for each role. For teaching applications this is sometimes also called a letter of application, but it is essentially the same thing. This is your opportunity to provide evidence of how you match the needs of the specific teaching job you are applying for, and earn yourself an invitation to the next stage, which is likely to be a selection day held at the school.

Writing tips for personal statements

When completing a personal statement for a teaching job, you should typically observe the following guidelines:

• Do not write a generic statement. Instead use the person specification and job description as a structure for your statement or consider using the government's Teachers' Standards if no person specification is provided.
• Do not exceed two sides of A4, unless otherwise instructed.
• Tailor your statement for each new application according to the nature of the school or LA and the advertised role.
• Always read any guidance provided – many schools and LAs will tell you how they want this section set out.
• Emphasise your individual strengths in relation to the role.
• For a pool application, make sure you give a good overview of your skills and experience.
• It is essential that you give specific examples of what you have done to back up your claims.

When a school advertises a teaching job , it will usually provide an information pack, which will include a person specification that states the essential attributes they are looking for. Be sure to read it carefully as it also serves as the marking criteria for the job. When drafting your statement, you should make sure to include an example or evidence for each criterion.

If the job advert does not include any documents which provide the criteria, you can use the following structure for your statement and use the Teachers’ Standards as a guide for the criteria they may be looking for.

Why you are applying for the role:

• Refer to any knowledge you have of the LA or the school, including any visits to the school and what you learned from them.
• Show you would be a good fit for the school. The best way to do this is to look at the school’s values and give an example of how you match these.
• Mention any special circumstances (for example, your religious faith) which you think are relevant.

Details about your course:

• Give an overview of your training course - including the age range and subjects covered - and any special features.
• If you are a PGCE student, mention your first degree, your dissertation (if appropriate), any classroom-based research projects and relevant modules studied. Also mention if you have studied any masters modules.

Your teaching experience:

• What year groups you have taught.
• What subjects you have covered.
• Your use and understanding of formative and summative assessment practices.

Your classroom management strategies:

• Give examples of how you planned and delivered lessons and evaluated learning outcomes, including differentiation, scaffolding etc.
• Explain how you have managed classrooms and behaviour.
• Detail your experience of working with assistants or parents in your class.

Your visions and beliefs about primary/secondary education:

• What are your beliefs about learning and your visions for the future? You could touch on areas such as learning and teaching styles and strategies.
• Reflect on key policies relevant to the age range you want to teach.

Other related experience:

• This can include information about any previous work experience.
• Include training activities you have carried out and ways in which your subject knowledge has been developed.

Other related skills and interests:

• Give details of any particular competencies, experiences or leisure interests. This will help the school to know more about you as a person and could ‘add value’ in a school environment.
• Any involvement in working with children (running clubs, youth work and summer camps) is particularly useful to include.

Aim to end on a positive note. A conclusion which displays your enthusiasm in relation to the specific application and teaching in general will enhance your application - but avoid general statements and clichés.

Primary school personal statement

See our example personal statement for primary school teaching, below. Imagine it was written in response to the following person specification

We are advertising for a Year 3 Classroom Teacher. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Commitment to our school and our values
• Experience across a range of age groups
• Commitment to reflection and improving practice
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum
• Excellent lesson planning
• Knowledge of assessment
• Good knowledge of SEND and positive interventions
• Positive approach to provide challenge and support student success
• Excellent behaviour management
• Good communication skills with parents
• Enthusiastic and creative approach to lessons
• Willingness to contribute to the wider life of the school.

Example of a personal statement for a primary school teaching job.

Secondary school personal statement

See our personal statement for secondary school teaching, below. Imagine it was written in response to the following person specification:

Country High School are advertising for an enthusiastic Secondary PE Teacher. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Ability to adapt and tailor your approach for the differing needs of pupils
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum for your subject
• Knowledge of a wide range of sports
• Willingness to engage in extra curricular activities and the wider life of the school
• Experience of supporting high ability students, as well as those who may be less able or motivated
• Ability to use data effectively
• Competence to teach across all ability levels including SEND
• Ability to use technology to enhance learning.

See our example of a personal statement for a secondary school teaching job.

Written by Joanne Doherty, Stranmillis University College, July 2024

We have worked with AGCAS to bring you this content. This content is jointly owned by GTI and AGCAS however AGCAS owns the copyright to this content. Please see section 3.2 and 7.2 of the terms of use and privacy policy for further information about ownership, liability, copyright and permission for use.

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How to Write Your Winning Personal Statement for a Teaching Job in 2023

Get to know how you should draft a powerful personal statement on teaching. Experienced personal statement writers have shared some pro tips in this post that should prove beneficial to you.

On reading this article on personal statement on teaching, you will understand the principles of writing a successful personal statement for teaching jobs. We have shared some best practices that can help you succeed.

This post will clear the doubts of applicants who need to draft a personal statement for teaching job. In case you have any query at the end of the post, feel free to convey the same to us .

What is Personal Statement for a Teaching Job? Why Does it Matter?

Personal statement for a teaching job is a customized document that you need to submit while looking for a new job as a teacher. A well-crafted personal statement for teaching job articulates the personal qualities of the applicant, justifying why the person wants to become a teacher.

So, if you are keen to understand what is a teaching statement for a job application, it’s a document that demonstrates how suitable you are for the role. So, your application should concisely highlight your skills, experience, qualification, and commitment to the profession. 

A powerful personal statement on teaching can help you qualify for the job at your dream institute. When you get your personal statement for a teaching job professionally crafted, the experts would include relevant examples and information in it to boost your chances of selection. In a competitive world, this statement would help you bag a job at a reputed school.

How Does Look Like a Great Personal Statement for Teaching Job

A successful personal statement for teacher job should be tailored to match your profile. Whether you are drafting a personal statement for teaching assistant job, primary teaching, or as an initial teacher, it makes sense to have professional hands to get it drafted. The tone, pitch, language, and format of this document go a long way in demonstrating your competence.

A personal statement for teacher needs to demonstrate the passion and enthusiasm for teaching. The write-up needs to be original, and carry specific examples to point out how good you are at interacting with the learners and training the aspirants.

A well-structured personal statement on teaching can significantly leverage your chances of getting selected. The selection committee would get to know your experience and potential to make a difference in the learning environment.

NEED EXPERTS HELP FOR WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CLICK HERE NOW!

What Should You Add to Write a Well-structured Personal Statement for Teaching Job

Writing a personal statement for teaching job calls for experience, creativity, and diplomacy. Depending on your professional profile and the expectations of the institute you are applying for, you need to choose the elements and include them in the personal statement.

Here are some of the key elements that can strengthen your personal statement for a teaching job.

• Any prior knowledge about the school or institute, including visits to the organization and your professional preparation to work there
• An overview of your skills with relevance to the training course, special training, and subjects covered
• In case you are just applying for your first teaching job, mention your dissertation, degree, and research projects based on the classroom
• Under your teaching experience, mention the subjects covered, age groups you taught, and your strategies to manage the classroom
• Include specific examples to demonstrate your tactics of planning classroom lessons, and monitoring and assessing the outcome of the aspirants
• Explain your individualistic strategies to manage the behavior of the students
• In a section, include your vision about teaching and your professional goals
• Focus on your key policies to make education more effective for the aspirants
• Include relevant details about your prior teaching experience and mention how you evolved as a teacher
• You might mention your leisure interests in your personal statement for teaching assistant job if they add value to the document
• Focus on your interaction and involvement with children during summer camps and running clubs

Read more here on personal statements:

Write Your Teaching Job Personal Statement in 7 Steps

While writing personal statement for teaching job, make sure to follow the recommended guidelines. Sometimes, the aspirants run out of ideas and want to know how to write personal statement for teaching job. We have explained the best practices that can help you draft a successful personal statement for a teacher’s profile.

Read on to know how you should write a personal statement for teaching program.

Customize the document:

Make sure to customize your personal statement on teaching for the specific job you are applying for. A generic approach wouldn’t work under competitive environments. Closely pay attention to the job description, relevant skills, and what the position demands.

Experience and education:

The best personal statement for primary teaching should include relevant details related to your experience, education, and special training. Even though you mention these details in your curriculum, you need to contextualize your skills considering the new job profile.

Your motivation:

In this segment, mention your motivation to teach students. This should be a creative section in your personal statement. Explain how you got started with the profession and why you love transferring knowledge.

Why you are the right applicant:

Your personal statement proforma should be strategically drafted to demonstrate why the institution should select you. So, explain how you plan to contribute to the learning environment. Talk about your skills in mentoring students and vision about the opening.

Demonstrate your personality:

A personal statement for a teaching job shouldn’t be like your CV. Make room to demonstrate your personality, using the right language and tone. You can spice up your personality by tailoring it for the university or school you are applying for.

Make it concise:

Brevity is the key to success when it comes to writing a successful personal statement. This ensures that the readers would find it easy to locate the important facts. Avoid fluff and write to the point.

Editing and proofreading:

Your personal statement on teaching should be grammatically accurate and flawless. Once you complete the document, make sure to edit and proofread it for possible mistakes. An error-free personal statement would create a positive impact on the selecting committee.

Format of the Personal Statement for Teaching Job

Structuring and formatting your personal statement on teaching goes a long way in making the document presentable. The right format also articulates your aesthetic sense.

Here’s how you should format a personal statement for a teaching job.

Compelling introduction:

It is the introductory paragraph of your teaching personal statement that hooks the readers till the end. So, make sure to come up with something compelling and unique to demonstrate your individual teaching style.

Furnish requested information:

It would be prudent to furnish the requested information in your personal statement on teaching early. So, take the opportunity to mention the facts and details, contextualizing them with the rest of the information.

Your approach to teaching:

In this part of the personal statement for a teaching job, explain how you have shaped your approach to make the learning process effective for the students. Write on how you value feedback and adapt to individual curriculums in different institutions.

Explain what makes you different:

In this part of your teaching personal statement, demonstrate your unique traits and skills. This is one of the most crucial aspects in your document that can give you an edge over others.

Interests outside the classroom:

Make sure to write about your activities outside the classroom that has a connection to your profession. So, your personal statement on teaching should include relevant details on your volunteering activities and participation in skill development programs.

Your knowledge of the institute’s ethics:

Before you conclude, mention what you know about the culture and professional ethics of the target institute. Demonstrate how your profile matches the work environment. In this section, your personal statement should explain your understanding of the academic environment there.

Example for Personal Statement for Teaching Job

Here’s an example of personal statement for teaching job that will help you understand how you need to draft these documents.

Over the last ten years during my teaching career, I have largely focused on my career progression. It is out of this aptitude that I am applying for a teacher in Philosophy at your esteemed organization. Channelizing my innovative teaching methodologies, skills, and experience, it would be a gratifying experience for me to make a difference in the academic institution. I largely strive to make the learning process enjoyable for the aspirants. Therefore, before teaching students, it’s imperative to understand their psychology and perceptions about the subject. At times, teachers need to tactically break pre-conceived notions of the students that might prove to be a hindrance to their knowledge-acquisition process. With this approach to knowledge imparting, I look forward to working as a teacher at your institution.

I have completed my Master’s program in Philosophy, besides undergoing a special course in teacher training to sharpen my skills. Having worked in three institutions over the last ten years, I have developed my own way to impart knowledge. This experience has significantly helped me interact with the learners and adapt to their learning methodologies. As an enthusiastic teacher, I am keen to feed young minds with valuable doses of learning. I am confident that my experience and teaching methodologies would perfectly sync with your institutional ethics.

I feel gratified to have experienced a significant and eventful career as a teacher. I have enjoyed every moment of my teaching life uniquely, imbibing the necessary competence to shape my career. I have been an ardent learner of the area of my interest. It was out of my motivation to channelize knowledge to others in this domain that I decided to venture into teaching. During my leisure hours, I focus on mastering scientific ways to impart knowledge to others. This has bestowed me with a refined knowledge on acquiring relevant skills and support the pupils. Thanks to my interpersonal skills, I can seamlessly communicate the core ideas to the other end. I understand the value of communication when it comes to a career in teaching. While focusing on my core competencies, I also prioritized my soft skills like interaction, organizing things, and communication. As a teacher, I believe in the principal in equal distribution of knowledge. On a personal level, I have adopted certain teaching methodologies that ensure a holistic progress for the entire class. I understand that not all the learners are gifted with the same level of intellect to grasp fresh knowledge. Being patient, I take time to help them individually, so that they can understand my lessons. This ensures that no student feels deprived or left behind in the class. Considering the abstractness of the domain of my expertise, Philosophy, I believe that every learner needs to acquire relevant knowledge and stay at par with others. With my unique way of teaching, I ensure that all the aspirants can equally progress in my class.

In an effort to streamline my approach to teaching, I have been proactive in different community care programs. Back in 2014, I completed a course in a residential care home, where I got the opportunity to talk to the residents. It was amazing to learn their childhood experiences. Although this program has no direct link with the teaching profession, it refined my abilities to approach people. Now, I can channel the same set of newly acquired skills when I address a new batch of students. Through consistent efforts, I have strived to make myself trustworthy, confident, and approachable.

Now that I have been in the profession for more than a decade, I believe that I am ready to shoulder the noble responsibilities at your esteemed organization. With this opportunity, I look forward to refine the academic environment at your esteemed organization with my skills and experience.

How to Use the Samples

Well, you have gone through the personal statement for teaching job example, and now you probably have a better understanding on how crisp and concise you need to be. You can reach out to us for other teaching job application personal statement examples as well.

As an applicant, you can derive some inspiration from our personal statement teacher sample. However, we highly recommend you not to use these documents, or any similar idea in your new personal statement. We have already written these statements for our successful clients. So, once you have gone through the personal statement for teaching job application examples, you can share your individual ideas with us. The professional writers working with us would be glad to draft a unique personal statement for teaching to help you.

Make sure not to copy any detail from our samples, as it would result in plagiarism. Ultimately, your application would be rejected when you submit a copied or inspired personal statement.

• You can read the samples and choose the desired template or format
• Simply convey your requirement to us after reading the examples
• You might also request us to write in the same tone or language as in the samples
• Aspiring teachers often follow our format and adhere to the same word count

Get Pro Tips From Our Experienced Writers to Develop Your Personal Statement

Following the guidelines of experts who provide personal statement writing services ensures that your application would be strong and convincing enough. A self-written personal statement for teaching position would not be sufficient, as you lack experience in drafting these documents.

Here are some pro tips from the seasoned creative professionals working with us . With these guidelines, you can write an impactful personal statement.

• Unless the institute provides you with specific information, don’t write more than two faces of an A4 page
• Customize the personal statement on teaching as per the principles and policies of the target intuition
• Go through the provided guidance, as many academic institutions want the personal statements to be in a particular format
• Focus on your core skills and unique strengths with respect to the job role
• To back your claims up, provide particular and relevant examples in the personal statement for a teaching job
• Edit the document and proofread it extensively to weed out all sorts of format, syntax, grammar, or factual error
• Be specific about the information you furnish, as there’s no scope of ambiguity in a successful personal statement for teaching

Don’t Ever Do This in Your Personal Statement for Teaching Job

Applicants often commit mistakes unknowingly while writing a personal statement for teaching position. These mistakes occur primarily due to their lack of expertise and knowledge of this art. So, you need to scan the document for these mistakes and submit a good personal statement for teaching job.

As an applicant, you would want to keep your personal statement free from mistakes.

Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid in your personal statement on teaching.

• Including irrelevant information or personal details
• Making the information repetitive
• Copying text from other sources
• Failing to tailor your personal statement
• Writing in the wrong tone and pitch
• Selecting inappropriate words
• Overlooking presentation and formatting

Which Teaching Positions Require the Applicants to Furnish Personal Statements?

Here are some of the common teaching positions that require a personal statement.

• PGCE primary personal statement
• Personal statement for School Direct
• Experienced teacher personal statement
• PGCE personal statement
• TESOL personal statement
• Teacher training personal statement
• Personal statement university lecturer
• Secondary School Teacher Personal Statement
• UCAS teacher training personal statement
• Personal statement for teaching assistant job
• PGCE chemistry personal statement
• English teacher personal statement
• Maths teacher personal statement
• Biology teacher personal statement
• PE teacher personal statement
• Psychology teacher personal statement

Well, now that you have gone through the personal statement on teaching writing tips and examples,

You have a better idea on how you should approach these crucial documents.

Hopefully, you will find this blog useful while drafting one for yourself.

You can also share your opinions and feedbacks regarding personal statement for a teaching job after reading this blog.

We would be happy to hear from you.

How long should a personal statement be for a teaching job?

The length of a personal statement for a teaching job should not exceed two sides of a single A4 page.

Who will check my personal statement for teaching job after application?

The selection committee or recruitment board of the respective institute would check your personal statement for teaching job after application.

Is there any validity for personal statement for teaching job?

Yes, your personal statement for a teaching job holds immense value during your application. This document helps aspiring teachers to stand out from other applicants in competitive scenarios.

Mrs Jizah M

Mrs Jizah M has always enjoyed writing down her thoughts since school days. What just started as a hobby slowly transformed into a passion. Her writing skills were first acknowledged by few of her professors when she wrote content for the college website; this was a turing. Slowly she started getting freelance works and later on, a series of events led her to specialize in academic and higher education related documentations. In additional to personal statements, she along with her team writes LORs, SOPs, college application essays, admission essays and all similar types of documents.

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Your NQT Personal Statement – 13 Tips to Make it Stand Out

When you’re applying for your first NQT teaching job it can be quite challenging. You might feel like you’re all alone, with no one to help and advise you. We don’t want you to struggle and perhaps lose the opportunity to get that teaching position you have set your eyes on. Therefore, we’ve created this post just for you.

Once you’re ready to start looking for a teaching position, one of the first things you will need to prepare is your application. There are usually three main components to an effective application, and these elements are:

• The application form
• A supporting statement or letter of application
• An executive summary to show how you comply with the criteria, and that you are the person the school is looking for.

In this article we will be focusing on your NQT Personal Statement. 

Your NQT personal statement is likely to be the first impression that you will make with this new school or NQT pool and an ideal opportunity to show your unique qualities that make you the best person for the position on offer. 

Therefore, you will want this opportunity to promote yourself to the school in the best way possible. So it’s important that your writing is coherent, focused and clearly explains your reasoning behind wanting to be a teacher. In addition, a strong NQT personal statement will set you apart from other candidates in the competitive marketplace. 

Just like a resume and cover letter for a regular job, your personal statement should be rewritten for every position you apply for.

Never use the same NQT personal statement for multiple applications. Generic personal statements are super easy for employers to spot. And after all, you want to shine, right? Plus, you don’t want to copy someone else’s statement. Your employer might screen all personal statements using a similarity detection service like Copycatch. This could really hurt your application right out of the gate. And quite possibly end up in the bin. 

Remember, your personal statement is your chance to show your personality and enthusiasm, relevant to the school and prove you understand what they are looking for.

Your personal statement also shows your communication skills. That’s why you want to grab their attention, just like you want to with your students at the start of every lesson.

What is the NQT personal statement?

The NQT personal statement is an important document which schools use to understand why you want to become a teacher and whether you are suitable to teach at their school.

Of course, your application form will lay out all your qualifications, your skills, your strengths and weaknesses and also any relevant work experience. But your NQT personal statement is where you allow your unique personality to shine.

It is important to put your heart into writing your statement. And be prepared to write multiple drafts.

How do you write an effective NQT personal statement?

Your application and your NQT statement are going to be the first steps in securing the position you are looking for. Therefore, you obviously want to make a great first impression. Be ready to go through multiple drafts. Take your time, and get feedback from friends and family members.

I’m sure you have a ton of questions, such as:

• How do I write a killer, successful NQT statement?
• Where do I start?
• What should I include in my NQT statement?

These are all important questions. And I’m sure you have many more. So, let’s dive in and show you how to write an NQT statement which will stand out and give you the best chance of getting hired in your chosen teaching position.

Are you ready to write your killer NQT personal statement?

Great. Here are some important tips to help you.

1. The first rule when writing a successful NQT statement is to know your audience.

Before you start, it’s a great idea to step back for a minute and put yourself in your hiring manager’s shoes.

Think about what's important to them. What are they passionate about? What are they looking for? How can you improve their life?

When you think about what your hiring manager is looking for, you’ll have a much better chance of writing a concise and effective personal statement.

It’s a good idea to write a list of 10 things you think will be important to them.

However, the most critical step at this stage is to do your research and find out exactly what is required for this specific application. Different schools or LEA’s will have different requirements for the personal statement and should have guidelines somewhere in their application advert or portal.

Clearly your first task is to make sure that the personal statement you prepare is tailored to the requirements that have been set out for that job.

2. What is your objective?

• What is the purpose of your personal statement?
• Why should they hire you?
• What action are you trying to get the reader to take?

You need to be clear on this before you start writing your personal statement. If the answer isn't clear to you, it certainly won't be clear to your potential employer.

3. Why do you want to be a teacher?

Seems a simple question on the surface. But this is a great opportunity to show you’ve thought through this question. You could mention a past teacher who inspired you. Or the challenges and rewards of teaching. You could also talk about any lessons you have observed or taught previously which impacted you. You could also discuss particular teaching styles and your interests in using technology in the classroom.

Key tip: Think about creating a story for this question. Remember, the hiring manager is first and foremost a human being. Many new teachers make the mistake of forgetting this vital point. You are equal to them in this respect. Use emotional language to touch your reader. Help them imagine themselves in the situation you are describing. Help them feel what it was like in the situation that drove your desire in becoming a teacher. This is a major key in rousing your reader’s emotions.

4. Make sure you start your personal statement strongly.

Just like a great book or movie, your opening sentence should stand out. Make it memorable, without being overly dramatic. Effective personal statements often start with what inspired you to enter teaching in the first place.

• Did a high school teacher inspire you?
• Was it your own experience of learning?
• Was it a good or bad teacher you had previously?

This is a great opportunity to show some passion. Like point no.3 above, use some emotional language.

5. Why do you want to teach a particular age group?

Be ready to explain why a certain age group appeals to you. Mention specific examples of your experience with this age group.

For example, anyone who has taught kindergarten knows how much energy the students have. Lessons are always full on. And as cute as the kids are, if your lessons are not jam-packed with active, high-energy games, you’re going to lose them. 

Similarly, elementary students are at a stage where they are slowly beginning to think for themselves and many of them think they already know it all. At this age role-playing is effective, as the students like to see themselves as tiny adults. 

If your chosen age group is teenagers, you’ll be aware that this age group has its own challenges. Being a teenager has never been an easy task, and with so many changes going on in their lives and their bodies, their confidence is up and down. 

So, when you answer this question, you’ll need to show that you can relate to what is going on in your chosen group’s world. Show you are able to look back to when you were their age, relate to the age group and show how you keep your lessons relevant and exciting.

6. What experience do you have?

Relevant teaching experience is always going to help you when applying for any position. But it is also important to reflect on how that experience has helped you develop as a teacher. If you haven’t had much classroom time:

• Do you have any experience in voluntary teaching?
• Have you coached a sports team or been involved with a summer camp?

Obviously, as a new teacher, you can’t recite years of experience. Help your hiring manager imagine you in action. For example, you could describe a particular lesson which was either a success or failure. Think about retelling a memorable or challenging experience with a student, or a description of what your classroom looks and sounds like on a typical day. This will be much more valuable to enable them to envision your teaching experience than to cite pedagogical terms or talk vaguely about your teaching experience.

Always use specific examples of how your experiences have developed your teaching skills.

7. You should highlight your achievements, strengths and skills

Explain what you can bring to the school. Show how you differ from the other candidates. You could mention past experience and achievements, your unique talents, as well as your professional goals. You could also add specific classroom strategies you have developed and how they helped your students.

Many applications will make it clear that they want you to cover your specific qualifications, skills and understanding of elements of the National Curriculum, your classroom and educational skills plu your short and long term goals for making a difference to the education of your pupils.

The exact requirements should be set out in the application guidelines which should also tell you what you need to focus on.

8. How long should your NQT personal statement be?

This is not an essay. It’s simply a summary of you, your skills and your experience, and how they relate to the position you are applying for. Therefore, you should be specific and keep your personal statement short and informative.

This will help you keep your personal statement under a widely recommended  500-word limit. The school will not be impressed by minor childhood achievements, so keep your statement pertinent and focused.

That said, again, check the specific requirements in each case. Some applications will welcome a longer NQT personal statement, as is the case with Lambeth where we are happy to read up to three pages of A4, but no more.

If there is no guidance then the 500 word range is a very solid guide.

9. Make every word count

It’s a good idea to take a leaf out of a professional copywriter’s book here. Don’t waffle. Make every word count. Use powerful words where possible, without being overly dramatic. Avoid weak words like may, maybe, hope, wish, try, and perhaps. Instead, use words like will and can to help your personal statement command attention.

10. Take your time

Edit and then re-edit your personal statement. Besides being difficult to read, misspelled words and grammatical errors will destroy your credibility. Once you think you’ve written a great personal statement, it’s a good idea to leave it for a day or two. Then come back and see if you can improve it.

11. Read your statement out loud

This next tip is super-effective, and one many people fail to do. Read your statement out loud. If you do this, you’ll spot areas that don’t flow properly. And if you stumble when reading your statement out loud, you can be sure your potential employer will have the same trouble.

Key tip: Why don’t you record yourself as you read out your statement? This is simple to do with your phone. Then play it back and see if you can spot areas you can improve.

12. Let friends and relatives read your personal statement

Make sure whoever you ask to read your personal statement knows you want them to be critical. The whole purpose of this exercise is to improve your statement, not to make you happy that they love it. Choose your feedback team carefully. 

13. Finish strongly

The way you finish your personal statement should reinforce your enthusiasm for your career in teaching. Acknowledge that hard work is necessary, but also make your excitement stand out.

Your personal statement for PGCE primary

You should explain the experience you’ve gained with primary-age children.

The PGCE primary personal statements usually demonstrate your personality and the various skills you have which would benefit primary schools such as being artistic, your musical talents or your sporting prowess. 

All these types of skills would be very useful during primary schools’ extracurricular activities.  

Your personal statement for PGCE secondary

In this type of personal statement, you will want to make it clear you understand the challenges of teaching older students.

You could mention specific examples of situations and challenges you have faced teaching this age of students, and how you overcame them.  

You’ll also want to document how your degree ties in with the position you are applying for.

Final thoughts on your NQT Personal Statement

So, that is the nuts and bolts of what your NQT personal statement should include. The basic foundation for an effective personal statement is that it’s all about the pupils. What the school wants for the pupils, what you can provide for the pupils.  

You should always write your personal statement, and indeed your whole application from the angle of what will benefit the pupils, not what’s best for you.  The school is not interested at this stage in what’s good for you, it’s more interested in what’s good for its pupils, and if you can provide that. 

Now you know the structure of a strong NQT personal statement, we hope you will be in a perfect position to write an effective statement to get that dream job you’ve had your eyes on.

There’s more on the specific requirements of what Lambeth are looking for in the NQT personal statement for the Lambeth NQT pool on pages 10 and 11 of the NQT Information Pack which you can download here .

Remember that, as we said at the start of this article, each job you apply for should come with clear requirements for the application and hopefully some guidance. In the case of Lambeth we have a requirement for your NQT personal statement to clearly cover how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of being an NQT, and we outline a set structure that helps you do that.

Download our NQT Information Pack now to learn more.

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We have more helpful articles right here!

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