ÌÇÐÄVlog

When applying for a new job, you may be competing with tens or even hundreds of other applicants 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 it sets the recruiter's first impression of you. 

The personal statement: why does it matter?  

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

You should talk about yourself and your professional achievements, while at the same time apply those experiences to the school itself. You need to be concise and clear – it shouldn’t be too long or read like a list. 

How to write a teaching personal statement 

We know it’s not an easy task and can be tricky to get right – so here’s our guide to writing your teaching personal statement. 

Consider the person specification 

It's vital your statement matches the person specification for the role you're applying for. 

Before you start writing, read through the person or job specification and annotate where and how you meet the essential and desirable attributes. 

Getting these written down before you start on the statement ensures you can incorporate these throughout, and that the entire application is built around how you fit the needs of the role. 

Your experience, skills and responsibilities

Start your statement with your experience. This might include: 

• Projects you’ve been involved in 

• Extracurricular and enrichment activities 

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• Personal attributes and skills 

In each key area, include: 

• Your philosophy or approach (i.e. the theory) 

• Your experience in that area  

• How you would use that experience in the specific (1) school and (2) job you’re applying for 

Professional development 

Next, move onto professional development and CPD. Consider what is the most relevant to the role – don't name every bit of CPD you’ve done, as this will likely be too much. 

Instead, pick out your stand-out learnings and highlight the CPD that has a clear aim – and link this back to the job specification. 

Bring it back to the school 

By the point of writing your statement, you should have already thoroughly researched the school (so if you haven’t already, make sure to do your research now).

In your personal statement, you should talk about why you want to work at the school – it should be clear to the shortlist panel that you’ve done your research, as this should come through in your statement. 

It should also be clear that your application is tailored not just to the school, but the specific role you’re applying to (that means the department or key stage you’ll be working in, too). 

Things to keep in mind 

There are a few things to remember throughout the process of writing your statement.  

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Importantly, your application needs to show and not tell. Don’t list what your attributes are; give examples that show you hold those attributes. For example, don't just say "I am dedicated" – instead, share an example of something you’ve done that shows you are dedicated. 

Personality matters 

Your educational philosophy should be embedded in your statement – and it also helps if you give the statement some personality. While it should remain professional throughout, the school wants to find a teacher who is a good fit for them, so give them a flavour of who you are. 

This might be through your tone, phrasing, and by including why you are passionate about the role. 

Remember your open and close 

A strong opening hooks the recruiter in at the beginning and finishing on a high note leaves them feeling that they want to meet you. So while you might think what’s in the middle is more important, pay attention to your opening and closing sections too. 

Don't copy and paste 

And lastly – do not copy and paste between job applications. By copying and pasting, you risk leaving in key details such as the wrong school name, department or job title. 

The most important thing is that it’s clear your statement has been specifically written for the school and job you are applying for – so getting the details wrong can get your application an immediate ‘no’. 

Download the teacher’s application guide 

Access a practical guide to help you build a strong CV, write effective supporting statements, prepare for interviews and explore international teaching opportunities. Download the teacher’s application guide now. 

Download guide

Originally published in 2019 and updated by ÌÇÐÄVlog in 2026.