We read 113 UK teacher job adverts. Here's what schools actually want.
After nurses (119 adverts) and care workers (105 adverts), we turned the same analysis on teaching. 113 real UK teacher and educator job adverts, every one read and counted.
The biggest surprise: the thing schools ask for most has nothing to do with subjects, lessons, or curriculum.
The headline finding: schools want leaders, not just teachers
The most-mentioned requirement across 113 adverts was leadership — appearing in 55% of them.
Not head of department. Not assistant headteacher. Just “teacher.”
Schools use job adverts to signal what they expect from classroom teachers, and overwhelmingly the signal is: we want someone who contributes beyond their classroom. Running a club, mentoring an NQT, leading a working group, owning a curriculum area — all of this counts. If your CV reads as “I taught my classes and marked my books,” you are missing more than half the signal.
And the thing that barely shows up? Curriculum — just 7% of adverts mention it. Schools assume you can plan lessons. They want to know what else you bring.
The top things schools actually ask for
1. Leadership — 55%
Over half of all teacher adverts. For every level from NQT to experienced classroom teacher.
If you have done any of these, say so explicitly:
- Led a subject, year group, or curriculum area
- Mentored an ECT, NQT, or PGCE student
- Ran an after-school club or enrichment programme
- Chaired a department meeting or working group
- Contributed to school improvement planning
Do not hide leadership in vague phrases like “took an active role in the department.” Name what you did.
2. Assessment — 44%
Nearly half of adverts mention it. Schools want to know you use data, not just grades.
“Used termly pupil progress data to identify underperforming students and adapt planning accordingly.”
“Implemented formative assessment strategies including exit tickets and peer marking to improve lesson responsiveness.”
“Assessed pupil work” is not enough. Show how the assessment changed what you did next.
3. Communication — 42%
Parents, students, colleagues, and senior leadership. Strong teacher CVs show all four:
“Communicated pupil progress and pastoral concerns to parents at termly evenings and via written reports.”
“Collaborated with SENCO, form tutors, and external agencies to support students with additional needs.”
4. Inclusion — 39%
“Inclusive practice” appears in nearly two in five adverts. It covers SEN, SEND, EAL, mixed-ability teaching, and differentiation for high-prior-attaining students. If you have experience in any of these, use the word “inclusion” or “inclusive” explicitly. Schools search for it, and “differentiation” alone does not carry the same weight.
5. Well-being — 38%
More than a third of teacher adverts mention well-being. If you have supported pupils through personal difficulties, run a pastoral programme, contributed to a mental health initiative, or been a trusted adult for a student — surface it.
“Acted as form tutor for 28 students, providing pastoral support and making referrals to the school's mental health team where appropriate.”
6. CPD — 28%
More than a quarter of adverts ask for evidence of continuing professional development. Training attended, coaching received, courses completed, or professional reading applied. Use the abbreviation “CPD” — it is the shorthand schools recognise.
“Completed restorative practice training and applied it to behaviour management, reducing fixed-term exclusions in my form group.”
7. Enthusiasm — 22%
One in five adverts uses this word explicitly. “Enthusiastic” is fine and shows up in real adverts. Use it once, naturally, in your summary.
What schools barely mention
- Curriculum: only 7%. Schools assume you know your subject. What they are assessing in the advert is everything else.
- Lesson planning: 0% explicit mentions. Assumed. Not a selling point on its own.
- QTS: only 5% in advert body text — it is in the person spec. But put it in your summary so recruiters see it immediately.
- Specific exam results: never mentioned. Schools do not ask for A-level grades in adverts.
Before and after
A secondary school English teacher's summary:
“Enthusiastic and dedicated teacher with 5 years of experience teaching English at KS3 and KS4. Passionate about literature and helping students achieve their potential.”
Tailored against a real advert, with the patterns from 113 real adverts applied:
“Secondary English teacher (QTS) with five years at KS3 and KS4, including two years as a curriculum lead. Committed to inclusive practice and data-informed assessment. Experienced in mentoring ECTs and contributing to school-wide well-being initiatives. Strong communicator with parents, students, and the wider team.”
Same teacher. The difference: leadership, inclusion, assessment, CPD, well-being, and communication — all in four sentences, because that is what the advert scored on.
Frequently asked
Why does leadership appear so often in teacher job adverts?+
Schools use job adverts to signal culture and expectations, not just task lists. When 55% of adverts mention leadership — even for standard classroom teacher roles — they are signalling that they want people who contribute beyond their classroom. Running a club, mentoring an ECT, leading a working group, owning a curriculum area all count. If your CV reads as "I taught my classes and marked my books," you are missing the signal more than half of adverts are sending.
What does "assessment" mean in a teacher job advert?+
Not marking. Assessment in school adverts means using pupil data to drive decisions: identifying underperforming students from progress data, implementing formative strategies like exit tickets or peer marking, and adapting planning in response to what the data shows. "Assessed pupil work regularly" is not enough. Show how the assessment changed what you did next.
How important is QTS for a teacher CV?+
QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) only appears in 5% of advert body text — not because it is unimportant, but because it is a baseline requirement that lives in the person specification. However, you should still put it in your CV summary because recruiters want to see it immediately before opening the full spec. Format: "QTS — Qualified Teacher Status (England)" in your summary or credentials line.
What does inclusion mean on a teacher CV?+
"Inclusive" or "inclusion" appears in 39% of adverts. It covers a wide range of practice: SEN, SEND, EAL, mixed-ability teaching, and differentiation for high-prior-attaining students. If you have experience in any of these, use the word "inclusion" or "inclusive" explicitly — schools search for it. "Differentiation" alone does not carry the same weight.
Why does well-being appear so often in teacher adverts?+
More than a third of teacher adverts mention well-being. This covers both student well-being and staff well-being. Schools are dealing with rising mental health referrals, increased pastoral loads, and staff retention challenges. If you have supported pupils through personal difficulties, run a pastoral programme, or been a trusted adult for a student — that experience is worth surfacing explicitly on your CV.
What does CPD mean and why does it appear on teacher CVs?+
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It appears in 28% of adverts. Schools want evidence that you invest in your own development: training attended, coaching received, courses completed, or professional reading you have applied in the classroom. Use the abbreviation "CPD" — it is the standard shorthand in UK education recruitment and ATS systems recognise it.
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