Tips for writing your teacher training personal statement
When applying for teacher training, you’ll have to submit a personal statement. Follow our advice on how to show your full potential.
Include genuine and realistic reasons for wanting to teach
In part one of the personal statement, you are asked why you want to study your course or subject. You’ll need to outline the reasons you want to teach and explain your passion for the profession.
These reasons should be compelling. Applicants regularly reel out clichés, for example: 'I want to give back to society' or 'I want to help children'. Although true, what is it exactly you want to give back, and how does teaching help children?
Your reasons need to be developed and realistic. Teaching kids algebra isn’t going to solve the world’s problems. It might make a difference to individual lives, but how so? Don’t forget teaching has a lot to offer you too. Show your awareness of that.
Talk about your motivation for studying teaching, knowledge of the subject area, and your future plans.
Demonstrate your understanding of the challenges and rewards involved
Teaching can be a challenging profession – make sure you show your recognition of this. But, it can also be an extremely rewarding experience, so don’t forget to include the positives.
Show how your experience in schools helped you to understand the role of a teacher
In part two, you are asked about your relevant qualifications and experience. You’re unlikely to be admitted to a teacher training programme without relevant experience and studies, so make sure to include these details in your personal statement.
Don’t simply recall your experience as a teaching assistant. Relay what the experience meant to you and how it helped you understand what teachers actually do.
If you have experience of working with children in other capacities, include the details
Maybe you were a mentor in a summer camp for children, or you ran a local youth sports team. It’s all relevant. Mention how the experience will help your career in teaching. If nothing else, working with children will have developed your ability to build a rapport with them.
Draw on other professional experiences and say how they’re relevant
Question three asks what else you have done to prepare for the course and draws on useful experiences, like extracurricular activities and personal responsibilities.
Teaching calls for a variety of skills. You might have experience looking after siblings or working within a team in a part time job. These are all applicable, so include them and make sure to say how these skills will help you succeed as a teacher.
Don’t forget about your subject
Tailor your application according to the subject you hope to teach. This is especially important if you’re applying for secondary school training posts. What makes you an expert in the field? What are the challenges facing teachers of your subject? Why do you want to teach it?
If applying from outside the UK, explain why you want to train here
This could simply be a personal reason or otherwise. Admissions tutors want to know you’re serious about training in the UK.
Don’t waffle
Space is limited to around 4,000 characters across 47 lines in total. Each section has a minimum of 350 characters – make sure every sentence counts.
Give yourself plenty of time
Don’t leave the personal statement until the day before the deadline. You’ll need time to proof and edit it to make it strong and complete.
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- See university deadlines
Don’t keep it to yourself
Try to get feedback on your personal statement from a teacher you know, as well as a university tutor – they’re likely to have a unique insight.
Bear in mind who you’re writing it for
Are you applying for school-based or university-based training? This should have some impact on your personal statement, as a university may be looking for something different to what a school wants. Perhaps this will influence whose feedback you’ll listen to more closely.
Get the basics right
Consult DfE’s guide to make sure you’ve done everything correctly. Triple-check everything and take breaks between writing and editing. It’s hard to spot errors when you’re staring at your work for long periods of time.
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