You’ve just qualified as a teacher and you’re eager to take on your first role as a primary school teacher – now you need a killer personal statement that will make a head teacher sit up and take notice.
It can be a daunting thing writing a personal statement for a first-time teaching role but just follow a few simple rules and you will soon be crafting two perfect sides of A4 that will make your application leap out from the pile and get you that all-important interview.
Personal statement writing tips.
- Make every word count
- Spell and grammar check
- Keep it to two sides of A4
- Use headings, subheadings and bullet points where appropriate
- Be positive and enthusiastic
- Avoid clichés like “I love children”
- Avoid commenting on current teaching issues
<h2>How to nail your personal statement.</h2>
<p>Why are you applying for this position?</p>
<p>Your personal statement is not an audition for the X-factor so avoid a gimmicky opening line and instead concentrate on your reasons for applying for the job. You can waste time searching for a catchy opening but what will interest a head teacher most will be why you want to teach and how you can add value to the school.</p>
<p>Get to the point quickly – explain why you are excited about the position and then elaborate on your different reasons. This section doesn’t need to be an essay so keep it short, concise and to the point:</p>
<ul>
<li>What motivates you?</li>
<li>Is there someone who inspired you?</li>
<li>Why do you like teaching?</li>
</ul>
<h3>Details about your course.</h3>
<p>Make sure you include details about when and where you studied as well as what qualifications you have acquired. This shouldn’t just be a simple list of your but rather you should elaborate on what you have learned from your course, any specialist subjects you studied and how you hope to apply your new-found knowledge to the classroom.</p>
<p>For example, if you studied a module on young people and social change then describe how you might use this insight in the classroom, dealing with issues young people face in today’s modern world.</p>
<h3>Teaching experience.</h3>
<p>Your teaching experience is crucial to your personal statement and you need to mention all the placements you have undertaken as part of your course, what your roles and responsibilities were and what you have learned from it that you can bring to your new role.</p>
<p>If you have undertaken any other related experience or voluntary work it’s good to include it here too. Describe your roles and skills or qualities you observed in other teachers that you can use yourself in the classroom.</p>
<h3>Classroom management strategies.</h3>
<p>Describe any classroom management strategies you have observed during your course and placements that helped inspire and motivate students and explain how you would employ them in your own classroom.</p>
<p>Staring at a blank page, the task of writing a teaching statement can seem a bit tricky but when you think back to all you have learned and observed during your course, you’ll soon realise you have plenty to offer. Your statement will flow and before you know it you’ll be managing a class of your own.<br><br></p>
