How to write a great personal statement for teacher training

Your personal statement needs to be reflective and analytical. It should give clear, precise examples from your personal experience that show your strengths and skills are relevant to a career in teaching. These could come from voluntary work, involvement with clubs or societies, work placements, your time at university or a recent job. Try to make your statement original and appealing, but don’t exaggerate – you need to be able to talk confidently and convincingly about the points you make at interview.

Avoid very general statements such as ‘I love children’ or clichés such as ‘I want to give something back’ – find other ways to convey your motivation. You need to show your commitment to the profession without sounding naïve or over-idealistic.

Be concise: teaching is all about communicating the right information at the right level, so make sure that every word and sentence counts and that information is organised in a coherent way. You could give the different sections appropriate headings to emphasise the structure of your statement. Above all, don’t be daunted! Give yourself plenty of time, sit down with a cup of coffee, jot down notes and then refine and revise them. 

Personal statement checklist

• Who or what has influenced your choice to apply to be a teacher?
• Why will you enjoy working with young people? Give specific examples of qualities that a good teacher might be expected to have, such as good interpersonal skills and a desire for self-development.
• What can you offer apart from your own specialist subject? This could include language skills, interests such as photography, music or sport, or management skills gained in other employment.
• Why will you enjoy teaching your subject? Reflect on your subject knowledge, how you developed it and how it is relevant to the national curriculum. Primary ITT candidates should demonstrate knowledge across several curriculum subjects, particularly maths, science and English.
• What did you learn about teaching through your experience in schools or other educational environments?

The Training and Development Agency for Schools provides examples and more detailed tips.