CV template · UK · 2026

Primary School Teacher CV template (UK, 2026)

Primary teaching CVs live or die on QTS status and evidence of impact on pupil outcomes, so headteachers scan for exam-style proof: assessment data, progress against targets, and how you've handled a full class alone, not just supported one. UK schools also expect a clear safeguarding statement and, for early-career teachers, reference to the ECT induction framework rather than generic 'training' language.

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Primary School Teachers: pay and who’s hiring

Primary School Teachers in the UK typically earn between £30,000–£46,000 depending on experience, location, and shift patterns. Employers actively recruiting for this role include Harris Federation, Oasis Community Learning, United Learning, Local Authority schools. Tailoring your CV to each of these employers’ job descriptions — mirroring their exact wording — is what gets you past the ATS and in front of a hiring manager.

Keywords this template targets

QTS
lesson planning
differentiation
phonics
AfL
behaviour management
safeguarding
parents evenings

Certifications to highlight

QTS
Enhanced DBS
ECT framework (where applicable)
Safeguarding Level 1
SEND awareness

Personal statement example

QTS-qualified Primary Teacher with three years leading a Year 4 class of 28 pupils, raising combined reading and maths outcomes through targeted AfL and differentiated planning. Confident delivering phonics, managing behaviour, and running parents' evenings, with up-to-date Safeguarding Level 1 and SEND awareness training.

Example experience bullet points

Adapt these to your own roles — keep the verb-first structure and swap in your real figures.

Led a Year 3 class of 29 pupils, planning and delivering the full primary curriculum with weekly differentiated lesson plans
Used Assessment for Learning (AfL) to track pupil progress, raising the proportion reaching age-related expectations in reading
Ran termly parents' evenings and produced written reports communicating progress to over 25 families each cycle
Implemented whole-class phonics and guided reading sessions aligned to the school's systematic synthetic phonics programme
Acted as designated safeguarding first point of contact for the class, logging concerns in line with KCSIE procedures

Section-by-section structure

Personal summary — three sentences, lead with role + years + a measurable result.
Key skills — 8–10 bullets, mixing the keywords above with one transferable soft skill.
Certifications — bullet each credential with the awarding body and year.
Experience — reverse chronological. Each role gets 3–5 bullets, each bullet starts with a verb and ends with a number where possible.
Education — institution, qualification, year. Skip A-Level / GCSE detail if you have 5+ years of experience.

Common primary school teacher CV mistakes

Not stating QTS status clearly at the top of the CV — schools filter this first and assume its absence means you don't have it
Describing teaching in vague terms ('taught various subjects') instead of citing year group, class size, and measurable pupil progress
Omitting ECT induction status when relevant, which leaves recruiters unsure whether you still need statutory induction support

Frequently asked

How do I show pupil progress data on a CV without breaching data protection?

Use aggregated, anonymised figures only, such as 'raised the percentage of pupils meeting age-related expectations from X% to Y%' rather than individual pupil names or identifiable details. This satisfies GDPR while still giving schools measurable evidence.

Do I need to mention my ECT (Early Career Teacher) status on my CV?

Yes, if you're within your first two years of teaching, state clearly whether you're an ECT and at what stage of induction you are, since schools need to plan mentoring and reduced timetable allowances around this.

What ATS keywords matter most for a primary school teacher CV?

The strongest signals are: QTS, lesson planning, differentiation, phonics, AfL, behaviour management, safeguarding, parents evenings. Include them in your skills section AND in the body of role descriptions — ATS systems weight contextual mentions higher than skill-list entries.

Should I add QTS to my CV even if it's just in progress?

Yes — list it clearly with "(in progress, expected [date])". Employers screen-out CVs missing the credential entirely; partial credit is normal when the path is visible.

How long should a primary school teacher CV be in the UK?

Two pages, ideally. For roles with under five years of experience, a single tight page outperforms a padded two-pager. Recruiters spend 6–8 seconds on the first scan.