Tips for Writing Your Teaching Personal Statement

When applying for jobs through Horizon Teachers, you don’t need to create a personal statement as you can apply directly to the school, meaning you have one less thing to worry about when applying for your dream teaching role.


However, when it comes to applying for teaching jobs in general, writing a teaching personal statement is arguably the most important part.


Your teaching personal statement is an opportunity to make yourself memorable, to showcase your talents and experience and demonstrate your passion for education.


It’s also a great opportunity to talk about why you would be a great fit for that specific school, demonstrating your knowledge and research and showing why you would be an asset to the institution and a great fit in terms of the ethos and aims of the school.


However, no one said writing a teaching personal statement would be a walk in the park. Taking your time to craft and hone your teaching personal statement is important. Equally crucial is taking the time to adjust your personal statement for each application you make. Different schools will look for different qualities in a teacher and you will need to take the time to understand what these are before you send your application off. A one size fits all approach is likely to be obvious, and recruiters will be far more impressed with your application if it is clear you have taken the time to research the school and made an effort to demonstrate why you’d be the perfect choice to join the teaching staff there.


Our top tips for writing your teaching personal statement


Take your time


Your teaching personal statement should not be something you rush. This is arguably the most important part of your application, so write it over several days, or even weeks. Have others read it and give feedback, and make sure you have invested effort into making it the best it can be before you apply.


Do your research


Researching the job role and the school will help you to craft a teaching personal statement that stands out from the rest.


Showcase your experience


Make sure that you talk about any relevant experience you have. Go through the job description, point by point and address each skill that is listed and show how your experience has provided you with the tools you need to excel in the role.


Talk about your unique skills and interests


Not all of the skills required to be a great teacher are learnt inside the classroom. Your life experiences, hobbies and interests can all help you become a fantastic teacher and great role model. Make sure you take the opportunity to discuss your passions, skills and interests in your teaching personal statement so you can wow your future employers with everything you know.


Be meticulous with grammar and spelling


Make sure you proofread your teaching personal statement, get someone else to read the final draft, and run it through a spelling and grammar check if you can. Weeding out any mistakes is crucial as even the smallest error can be picked up by those reading it, and can leave a bad impression before you’ve even had a chance to show how brilliant you are!


Think about your tone


Use the school website as a guide for your tone. The school website is an invaluable resource and will help you understand the personality of the school you are applying for. If the content is formal with a focus on academic excellence, tailor your personal statement to match. On the other hand if the tone is lighthearted, fun and friendly, you should re-write your personal statement to show that you are too.


Ready to land your new teaching position?


Whether it’s your first application for a teaching position or you are looking for a change, here at Horizon Teacher’s we’re ready to help you land your dream job. Browse your jobs board for the latest opportunities, or get in touch with our friendly, professional team to talk through your career ambitions and see how we can help.