CV writing services for education professionals

Do not include a list of references or the phrase "references available upon request" on your education CV. These are considered outdated and take up valuable space that could be used to demonstrate your impact in the classroom or wider school community.

Instead, take a modern, more compelling approach by adding a "Recommendations" section to your CV. This provides instant credibility through testimonials from respected figures in education.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

Create a dedicated section at the end of your CV titled "Recommendations."

Select two impactful quotes from your LinkedIn recommendations, appraisals, or reference letters. Choose excerpts that are relevant to your target roles and demonstrate your teaching ability, leadership, or pastoral care.

Focus on credibility and substance. The recommendations should come from trusted sources such as Headteachers, Department Heads, or Senior Leaders, and should highlight specific contributions or results rather than general compliments like “hard-working and dependable.”

Format them professionally. Present each one as a short quote, followed by the recommender’s full name and job title.

This approach allows you to showcase real feedback from respected colleagues or leaders, creating a much stronger impression on school leaders and recruitment panels than a traditional reference list ever could.

Where to Place Your Qualifications Section

The placement of your qualifications section depends on your career stage.

For Early-Career Teachers or Education Professionals:
If you have one year of work experience or less, your qualifications are a major selling point. Position them as the second section on your CV, directly beneath your personal profile or summary.

For Experienced Teachers or Senior Leaders:
If you have significant classroom or leadership experience, your employment history should take priority. Move the qualifications section towards the end of your CV. You should still reference key qualifications, such as QTS or NPQ certifications, within your opening profile summary.

University Education:
List the degree title, your grade in brackets, and the university name.

Example: BA (Hons) in Primary Education with QTS (2:1), University of Leeds

School Education (A-Levels, etc.):
You don’t need to list your school name unless it’s particularly well-known. Simply include the qualification type, subjects, and grades.

Example: 3 A-Levels: English Literature (A), History (B), Psychology (B)

Professional & Teaching Qualifications:
For sector-specific qualifications such as QTS, PGCE, NPQSL, NPQH, or CPD certificates, list the name of the qualification only. There’s no need to include the name of the training provider.

Example: NPQ in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)*
Example: PGCE in Secondary Mathematics*

To keep your education CV focused and impactful, provide detailed descriptions for only your most recent four positions. This allows recruiters and school leaders to focus on your most relevant and up-to-date teaching or leadership experience.

For roles held before these, create a separate section at the end of your work history titled “Earlier Career.”

In this section, list your older positions as simple one-liners without additional details about responsibilities or achievements. Each entry should include:

• The dates of employment

• The school or organisation name

• Your job title

Example: 2012–2014 | St. Mary’s Primary School | Class Teacher

This approach keeps your CV concise and aligned with best practice — ideally no longer than three pages for most permanent education roles — while still showing a complete career history

The best CV format for education job seekers is one that is carefully tailored to the specific role and filled with relevant achievements that demonstrate your impact in the classroom or wider school community.

Begin with a clear profile paragraph that positions you directly in line with the job title, whether that is Class Teacher, SENCO, Head of Department, or Deputy Head. Use this section to highlight your relevance and communicate your overarching value to the school or organisation, often referred to as your value proposition.

Follow this with three to four key strength statements that align with the job description.

Include a Key Skills section presented in two columns, listing education-specific keywords from the job advert. Examples include lesson planning, assessment for learning, Ofsted compliance, data analysis, or pastoral care.

Add a Key Achievements section, ideally using brief STAR-format examples to demonstrate measurable results such as raising attainment levels, improving attendance, or delivering successful inspection outcomes.

Then list your Career History, focusing on the last ten years in reverse chronological order. Each role should include concise bullet points showing achievements and measurable impact, rather than a list of duties.

Finish with your Education and Professional Qualifications, including relevant degrees, QTS, PGCE, and CPD certifications. You can also include optional extras such as leadership training, published resources, or short recommendations.

1. Never lie
   It might be tempting to exaggerate your classroom experience, job title, or qualifications, but honesty is essential. If you are hired based on inaccurate information and cannot meet expectations, it could damage your reputation and future career prospects. Always promote your strengths truthfully and focus on your genuine achievements.

2. Avoid adding personal interests that could raise concerns
   While it may seem harmless to list hobbies such as competitive sports or other high-risk activities, some schools may interpret them negatively. Unless your interests are genuinely unique and show positive traits, such as organising charity events or community projects, it is best to leave them out.

3. Do not include bland or generic hobbies
   Listing hobbies like “reading” or “walking” adds little value and does not help you stand out. Every section of your CV should contribute to your professional story and demonstrate qualities that are relevant to the education sector.

4. Eliminate typos and grammar errors
   In education, communication and attention to detail are critical. Spelling and grammar mistakes can make you appear careless and undermine your professionalism. Always proofread your CV carefully, use tools like Grammarly, and ask a trusted colleague to review it before sending.

Here are three of the most damaging and common CV mistakes that could be preventing you from securing interviews for education roles.

1. Not tailoring your CV to the role
   This is the most common issue. Your CV must be specifically targeted to the teaching or leadership position you are applying for. Your profile paragraph should align closely with the job title, your value proposition should reflect the school’s priorities, and your listed skills must mirror the key requirements in the job advert. Support these with relevant achievements and measurable impact, such as pupil progress data or inspection outcomes.

2. Failing to show impact and achievements
   Many CVs simply list duties rather than demonstrating effectiveness. Recruiters and school leaders want evidence. They want to see how you have made a difference: improved results, enhanced pupil engagement, contributed to whole-school improvement, or led successful initiatives. Without this, your CV becomes a list of tasks rather than a persuasive case for why you should be hired.

3. Putting in minimal effort
   Too many people put their CV together quickly without considering what the reader wants to see. They write for themselves, not for the recruiter. A strong CV should reflect the needs and expectations of the school or trust. For most education professionals, this means a well-structured document of up to three pages, written with care and clarity. Despite how competitive the sector is, many applicants spend less time on their CV than they would on a lesson plan. Poor effort results in poor outcomes.

Bonus tip: Avoid typos
Around 80 percent of CVs contain typos. Use proofreading tools, read your CV aloud, and ask a colleague or friend to review it. In education, where communication skills are vital, accuracy really does matter.