Education · CV Template
Substitute Teacher CV Template & Example
A substitute teacher CV has to prove you can walk into an unfamiliar classroom, follow someone else's lesson plan, and keep order for the day. Schools want reliability, adaptability across grades and subjects, and a clean background clearance, so make those impossible to miss.
Substitute Teacher CV professional summary example
Open with two or three lines covering what you do, how long you have done it, and one measurable result.
Reliable substitute teacher covering Years 1-13 across 40+ classrooms, maintaining lesson continuity with a 96% requested-return rate from regular staff.
Core skills for a Substitute Teacher CV
The skills worth naming in your skills section. Different from the ATS keywords below, which are the terms a parser scans for.
- Classroom management
- Lesson plan execution
- Cross-year adaptability
- Behaviour de-escalation
- Quick rapport building
- Attendance and records
How to write a standout Substitute Teacher CV
Three things hiring managers and applicant tracking systems look for — get these right and you clear the first screen.
Signal reliability and clearances
Schools book subs they can trust on short notice. List your DBS clearance, QTS status (if held), and supply-teaching availability, plus a stat like fill rate or short-notice acceptances if you have it.
Show range across year groups and subjects
Versatility is your selling point. Name the year groups and subjects you have covered so a coordinator knows you can fill a primary-year or secondary slot.
Prove you keep the day on track
Highlight following existing lesson plans, managing behaviour without the regular teacher, and leaving clear notes. That continuity is exactly what gets you requested back.
ATS keywords for Substitute Teacher CVs
Applicant tracking systems scan for role-specific terms before a human reads your CV. Weave the ones that genuinely apply to you into your summary, skills, and bullets.
Substitute Teacher CV bullet point examples
Achievement-led bullets that show impact with numbers — concrete beats vague. Adapt them to your own results.
- Covered 40+ classrooms across Years 1-13 in a single school year, accepting 85% of short-notice morning requests.
- Maintained a 96% requested-return rate by following teacher lesson plans precisely and leaving detailed end-of-day handover notes.
- Stepped into a 6-week long-term assignment for a 4th-grade class, keeping the curriculum on pace through the teacher's medical leave.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about writing a Substitute Teacher CV.
What do schools look for in a substitute teacher CV?
Reliability, adaptability across year groups and subjects, classroom management, and valid clearances such as a DBS Enhanced certificate and QTS or supply-teaching registration. A high fill or return rate is a strong signal.
Do I need a teaching degree to be a substitute?
Requirements vary by school type; most prefer a degree, and maintained schools generally expect QTS, while academies can appoint without it. List whatever qualifications and DBS clearance you hold near the top of your CV.
How do I show experience if subbing is my first teaching role?
Include any work with children such as tutoring, coaching, camp counselling, or mentoring, and emphasize dependability, communication, and your ability to follow instructions quickly.
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