Student Good Guide
The best UK online resource for students
Primary Teacher PGCE Personal Statement
If you are applying to PGCE Primary, you will need to prepare a good personal statement. Learn how to prepare your application for PGCE from our Primary PGCE Personal Statement example .
Primary Teacher Personal Statement Example
One day, I hope to become a primary teacher. Primary and secondary education have both been highly positive experiences for me. It is my desire to inspire and encourage children of all abilities to achieve their full potential that drives me to apply for primary education.
I gained valuable experience working in a primary school setting from the perspective of a teacher. The uniqueness of each child and the way each day is different is what I enjoyed most about my job. I am also applying for a History degree since this would allow me to study a P.G.C.E. after I complete my undergraduate studies. I have always enjoyed Art, particularly the early modern era up until the 20th century, a period I find fascinating. Researching the history of my family and the local area is my favourite aspect of Art history. I have arranged a work experience placement at a local primary school on Monday morning during my free periods. I have gained a great deal of insight into the challenges and situations primary school teachers face. As a teacher, I have been able to provide extra support to students who are underachieving in literacy and numeracy. I have improved my interpersonal skills immensely as I have had to communicate with children of different abilities, cultures and religions from Primary 1 to Primary 7. In addition to being challenging, it is also extremely enjoyable. I am most enjoying helping with small group work and projects with Primary 3 to 7 classes, assisting the pupils in History and English lessons, and using ICT as an educational and motivational tool. When I see pupils who struggled in these areas improve, it is very rewarding for me.
I have also participated in the school’s Community Care program, where I visited a residential care home once a week and spoke with the residents. Their personal perspectives on childhood experiences and the past were enjoyable to hear. By performing songs on guitar, accordion, and voice for residents, and reading novels and poems to them, I have become more approachable, confident, and trustworthy. I have served as Chairperson of the Eco-School’s Committee for four years in school.
Further, I have enjoyed attending debates and lectures from renowned historians such as Senia Paseta, Richard Grayson, and Philip Orr as a member of the Omagh Academy History Society. In my free time, I’m a member of the Bridge Club of Leeds.
My Queen’s Badge is something I’m aiming toward having recently earned my President’s Award. I assist in the Boy area, which serves boys between the ages of 4 and 7, in order to obtain more experience working with kids. It is my obligation to organize and present drills, games, and Bible tales. I also like to play a variety of musical instruments, such as the lambing drum, accordion, guitar, and flute. I am actively involved in the Omagh Community Youth Choir and am pursuing my Grade 5 on the guitar. I have performed with the choir as a support act for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
I learned how crucial it is for primary school teachers to be able to play an instrument at school concerts and events through my work placement. I have joined the Fintona Taekwondo Club with enthusiasm. It has helped me become more tenacious, determined, polite, and disciplined. Taekwondo has helped me stay physically active, and I intend to continue practising it when I’m in college since I find it to be a wonderful stress reliever. I think I’m a good fit for this profession because I want to be a teacher in the long run. My decision to apply for primary courses has been solidified by my great experiences with work placement and volunteer work with the Boys’ Brigade’s Anchor Boys section.
Recommended reading:
- Personal Statement Examples
- How to Write a Personal Statement for a PhD
- UCAS Personal Statement: A Writing Guide And Tips For Success
- How to Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out
- Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for the University
- How to Write UCAS Reference Letter
Other personal statement examples:
- Animal Science Personal Statement Examples
- Anthropology personal statement examples
- Statistics Personal Statements
- PPE Oxford Personal Statement Example
- Classics Personal Statement Examples
- Theology Personal Statement Examples
- Physics Personal Statement Examples
- Chemical Engineering personal statement examples
- Oncology Personal Statement Examples
- Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples
What to Include in Your PGCE Personal Statement
How your pgce personal statement should be structured, example personal statement, final thoughts, pgce personal statement.
Updated November 24, 2021
A PGCE personal statement is written as part of the application process for teacher training and gives candidates an opportunity to showcase their skills and attributes.
PGCE candidates will only write one personal statement, which is used to apply for all of their preferred choices. Students upload their personal statement to the UCAS Teacher Training system, and it is submitted for all choices in both phases of the application process (‘Apply 1’ and ‘Apply 2’). No changes can be made once it is submitted.
The personal statement is often used as the deciding factor for choosing whom to invite to interview . This piece of writing should explain the experience you have and how this translates into your abilities in the classroom.
It should also present what you might be like as a teacher – how will your personality and interests help engage students and get them enthused about the subject?
A lot is riding on your personal statement and writing it can be a daunting task. This guide will outline what your PGCE personal statement should contain and how to structure it for the best chance of success.
The admissions team will want to know about the skills, experience and personal qualities you have that would make you perfect for a teaching career. They need to see you have the dedication and passion to complete your PGCE and have a successful future.
Simply saying, “I would be good at this role and am well suited to it” isn’t enough. The PGCE provider needs to read real examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities and meet their requirements.
Here are some details you may want to include in your personal statement:
1. About You
A teacher’s personality and personal experience will be highly influential, therefore your own experiences are relevant to your application.
Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to spend a few minutes jotting down some key facts that are relevant to teaching. These might include:
- Your interests
- Qualifications/achievements
- What motivates you
- Your upbringing
- Relevant skills
Remember to include examples in your list. Coaching a sports team in your spare time suggests you are experienced in motivating young people and getting the best out of them. Maybe you play an instrument and use music in class. Including qualities like these will make your application stand out.
2. Why You Want to Teach
A key element of your application is explaining why you have chosen teaching as your future career. Show an awareness of how teachers can inspire individuals and also the benefits you might see in yourself.
Try to broaden your answer further than simply saying you are passionate about teaching or children. Every applicant will say they are passionate.
Give details of experiences that moved you towards this career or, perhaps, even the moment you realised this was what you were born to do. By using genuine examples, your passion and excitement will shine through.
3. Why You Are the Best Candidate
Try not to pull out a cliché like “I am passionate, dedicated and reliable” – make your application stand out by using a paragraph that the provider won’t see in any other application that day.
Think about what makes you different from any other candidate. Other applicants may say they can take charge of a class and have experience dealing with challenging children, but will they sing an entire lesson just to get the pupils to engage with them, like you did in your work experience? Or will they bring in a structure made out of Lego to demonstrate osmosis, like you did on your degree placement? Think of what makes you, you.
4. Why a PGCE?
Include details of why you have chosen to go down the route of a PGCE rather than doing a full teaching degree. Perhaps you dipped your toe into teaching while travelling after your degree and realised how much you love it, or maybe you are passionate about biology and wanted to decide at a later date whether to go into teaching or industry.
Show that you have done your research and understand the structure of the PGCE and what will be required.
5. Teaching-Related Experience
Include details of any experience you have gained working in schools or with children in another environment. This might include:
- Work experience
- Visits to schools
- Teaching assistant roles
- Voluntary teaching/supervision roles (like helping out at a scout hut, etc.)
- Experience via the Get School Experience service
- Classroom observations
With every experience you discuss, note the skills you gained and how they will benefit you as a teacher and how they have improved your understanding of the education system.
6. Other Professional Experience
Teaching demands a range of different skills – it’s not simply a case of delivering information.
Talk about past positions you have held:
- Did you manage people?
- Did you work within a team?
- Did you negotiate?
- Have you trained or coached others?
- When have you communicated information to different audiences?
The skills you have gained throughout your education, work and personal life can be highly relevant to your application. Be sure to include details of why these skills will make you excel as a teacher.
7. What You Learnt During Your Degree
Whether your degree was in the subject you intend to teach or not, it’s important to talk about the skills you developed throughout your learning and how they will benefit you as a teacher.
If you’re struggling to find transferable skills , here are some ideas:
- Think about how you communicated (presentations, critiquing the work of your peers, etc.)
- Give examples of how you organised yourself
- Describe times you helped others with their learning
Remember to talk about the benefits your initial degree will bring when studying for your PGCE and how your interest in it has inspired your desire to teach.
8. Your Knowledge of What Training to Be/Being a Teacher Entails
It’s important to stress your commitment to your training. To do this, you should demonstrate that you have done your research and are fully aware of what is to come.
Although teaching is a highly rewarding career, no one applying for teacher training will do so without being aware of the challenging nature of the profession.
There is no need to ignore these challenges in your application; actually, it will work in your favour if you show that you have thought about these challenges and are sufficiently prepared.
Talk about the positives and negatives that you expect to experience in your training and within your career, and how your core strengths will help you deal with them.
9. Your Future Plans
Discuss your plans beyond the PGCE:
- Do you have the ambition to be a headteacher?
- Do you plan to take on pastoral responsibilities?
Show a keenness to immerse yourself in the school system and be open to opportunities that come your way.
10. Extenuating Circumstances
Your personal statement is the place to openly discuss any extenuating circumstances, such as low grades or large gaps in employment/education. Make sure you show how you have overcome these challenges and what you learnt from them.
Write your personal statement in Word (or equivalent) and make sure you are happy with it before copying and pasting it into your application on the UCAS system.
You need to keep your personal statement to no more than 4,000 characters across a maximum of 47 lines of text . The UCAS Teacher Training system may differ slightly to your word processor, so be prepared to amend slightly once you have copied it into the UCAS page.
To keep to the character limit and cover all the suggested material above, you will need to be succinct. Make sure you only talk about topics that are relevant and delete any waffle.
Your opening statement should be strong and memorable – a good idea is to state why you have decided to get into teaching. Back up all details with examples and be sure to say what you learned from the experience or how you can bring the skills you developed into the classroom.
Split your statement into three sections:
- Introduction – Introduce yourself and talk about why you want to do a PGCE
- Middle – Use the notes above to cover the key details
- Conclusion – Tell the reader why you are the best person for the place they are offering
Avoid using bold, underlining or italics, and write in English (or Welsh if applying for Welsh PGCEs). The UCAS system will strip all special formatting out of the personal statement (except paragraph breaks) so ensure you keep it simple.
When you are happy with the content, make sure you ask someone to check your work . Spelling and grammar in personal statements should be accurate. Make sure you have not copied anyone else’s work at all – UCAS screens all applications for plagiarism.
Below is an example personal statement which covers all of the key points you should include in this piece of writing:
A teacher at my secondary school single-handedly transformed my passion and ability for maths; I was predicted an ‘F’ at GCSE and in a matter of months, she helped me achieve a ‘B’ and start to enjoy the subject. I can’t think of a more satisfying job than one in which you can inspire young people in the way my teacher inspired me. After achieving a ‘B’ in maths at A-Level, I went on to study the subject at University College London and graduated in 2018 with a 2.1. It was in the final year of my degree that I had my first taste of teaching the subject, as several of the modules involved presenting topics to large groups of first-year students. I was thrilled when students asked to see me afterwards to share their observations of what I had been discussing – it was clear my enthusiasm had rubbed off on them and they were excited by maths, which is exactly why I want to teach. I currently work as a teaching assistant at St Andrew’s School, where I have been for six months. This position has given me a great insight into the skills needed to be a fantastic teacher; the school has several SEN pupils and I have been exposed to the more challenging side of the profession. Being trusted to run activities with the entire class has helped me build confidence and learn how important it is to adapt lesson plans to engage students who have different abilities. I have gained valuable skills in implementing strategies such as gentle competitiveness between pupils, and tactical seating plans to get the best out of each student. Before working at St Andrew’s, I completed a work experience placement at Bell Lane Academy where I shadowed teachers working across the five different year groups. This experience helped hone my skills in addressing different age groups in different ways. My ability to get the best out of students is further strengthened by the experience I am currently gaining in the position of assistant coach at my local netball team. Having worked with the girls for the last 18 months, I have developed different ways of motivating individuals, helping push them outside of their comfort zones and encouraging them to take on new challenges. In my spare time, I enjoy playing netball and rugby and would be keen to take on extra responsibilities at a school in the form of after school clubs or teams. I also have a keen interest in management styles and personality types. The knowledge I gain from books on these topics helps me understand pupils and their differing learning styles – what works for them and what doesn’t. It also helps me look inwardly, analysing my own leadership style and methods of teaching. I have chosen to do a PGCE because I am passionate about maths, and I wanted to spend three years of a degree course exploring the subject further, rather than embarking on teacher training straight from school. My degree course has helped me with my confidence and my ability to speak in front of large groups of people. Teaching first-year students during my degree course helped me think about how to deliver the subject in an exciting and creative way. The experience I have had so far has clearly shown that teaching is an extremely challenging profession, but one which I believe is undeniably my calling in life. I adore maths and I want to bring the subject alive, helping children learn in an exciting, rewarding environment. A few weeks ago, I took it upon myself to ask the headteacher for permission to get the whole year group involved in a human percentages exercise – the children loved it. I believe I should be offered a place on your PGCE programme because I can commit to dedicating myself to a role in which I will strive to inspire and excite every pupil I teach.
The personal statement is your one opportunity to capture the attention of the PGCE provider and set yourself apart from other candidates. Teaching is about bringing your personality into the classroom and inspiring students, so avoid a formulaic application and speak from the heart, giving a full picture of who you are.
Your answers should convey enthusiasm for inspiring young people, a passion for teaching, creativity, excellent organisational skills and energy.
Demonstrate an awareness of this challenging profession but conclude with excitement and enthusiasm for your chosen career path.
You might also be interested in these other Wikijob articles:
Or explore the Postgraduate / Further Study sections.
Suggestions in Courses
Suggestions in news.
- No suggestions found.
Suggestions in Events
Writing a pgce personal statement.
If you’re applying to train as a teacher you’ll be required to write a personal statement as part of your application.
Take your time writing your personal statement. It’s your first chance to make a good impression so it's well worth investing time to develop a clear structure and style of writing.
It’s a good idea to proofread your statement thoroughly and get others to read through and check for typos, grammatical errors, style, and tone.
What's the personal statement for?
The personal statement is crucial to your PGCE application; it is used primarily to decide whether to invite you for an interview. A poorly written personal statement could end your teaching career before it has started!
This is your chance to demonstrate what you have to offer as a teacher. You should also explain why you want to teach a particular subject or age range, and how your skills and experience will help you become a great teacher. It’s your chance to show your motivation, commitment and teaching potential and an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for teaching a particular subject or age group.
Remember, you only get one opportunity to write a personal statement for both cycles of applications, so it’s important to keep in mind that you should avoid creating tailored personal statements for each university.
How to write and structure your personal statement
The personal statement is split into two sections totalling a maximum of 1,000 words. It’s important to make sure you do not repeat yourself and to take time to ensure that each section is organised coherently. Divide your writing into paragraphs, each dealing with a particular aspect of the question.
Section 1: Why do you want to teach?
(Up to 600 words).
This is the place to talk about why you think you would make a great teacher. You can include:
- what has led you to choose teacher training
- your understanding of the demands and rewards of the PGCE course and of the teaching profession
- the personal qualities that will make you a valuable asset to a school
- details of any paid or unpaid experience you have of working with young people and what you learnt
- details of any other experiences which you can bring to the teaching profession. Think about any ‘transferable skills’ or qualities which you have developed which may be relevant to teaching.
- If you are a career-changer, what have you been doing and what are your reasons for the switch to teaching?
- your thoughts on children’s wellbeing and the education system
Your personal statement should tell us why you want to teach, your skills and about any experience you might have of working with young people or in the education sector. If you are taking any exams or additional study before starting the course, particularly if this relates to your eligibility to join the course, we want to hear about it.
It should also show that you understand the education system, what challenges teachers face and that you’re engaged with issues around education.
If you’ve not taught before, think about any other things you’ve done that might demonstrate the skills you’ll need to be a teacher (your transferable skills).
Although it’s a good place to expand on your skills and experience, this shouldn’t be the main focus of your personal statement as the rest of the application will showcase this.
Section 2: Why are you suited to teach your subjects or age group?
Up to 400 words.
Remember to not repeat anything you have already said in section 1!
If you’re writing a personal statement for secondary teacher training, use this section to describe your knowledge and experience of the subjects you’ve chosen. Any work experience in the field will be of interest.
What universities are looking for
Universities want to see your passion for teaching and understand why you think teaching this subject or age group is the right career for you.
Your personal statement should be original and honest. Try and avoid clichés or writing what you think we want to hear. All we really want to hear are the real reasons you’re applying to study a PGCE and become a teacher.
If you’re writing a personal statement for primary teacher training, say why you’d like to teach this age group. If you are particularly interested in certain primary subjects or have relevant experience in them, you can talk about that here too.
You could talk about:
- any relevant work or unpaid experience
- your degree and degree modules
- your other relevant qualifications, such as A levels
- any relevant skills, interests or achievements
- your understanding of the national curriculum
Questions your personal statement should answer
- Why do you want to be a teacher?
- Why do you want to teach a particular subject, Key Stage or age group?
- What are your strengths?
- What experience do you have and how has this influenced your desire to teach?
- What skills do you have that would be useful for teaching
The finer details
Your personal statement should be:
- no more than 1000 words
- written in the first-person
- grammatically correct - we suggest writing in a document before adding to your application
- your own work, don’t copy from anywhere online
- structured correctly with a clear introduction, evidenced paragraphs and a conclusion
- proof-read before being submitted
And finally, be prepared to answer questions about what you’ve written in your personal statement at the interview stage!
Find out more about how to get into teaching .
Find out more about how to get into teaching .
Follow us on social!
Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
Study a PGCE at London Met
PGCE Primary (3-7) - PGCE
Study this PGCE Primary course and become a qualified teacher of three to seven-year-olds.
PGCE Primary (5-11) - PGCE
Train to teach five to 11-year-olds on this PGCE course that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
PGCE Secondary Computer Science with ICT - PGCE
Train to teach Computer Science with ICT to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds.
PGCE Secondary Computer Science with Maths - PGCE
This London Met Computer Science with Mathematics PGCE is a great option for those who want to combine both disciplines into their PGCE. Apply now.
PGCE Secondary English with Drama - PGCE
This course will train you to teach English and Drama to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds.
PGCE Secondary English with Media - PGCE
Train to teach English and media to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds.
PGCE Secondary Mathematics - PGCE
Train to teach maths to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds. This course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
PGCE Secondary Modern Languages - PGCE
Train to teach modern languages to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds with our PGCE course that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
PGCE Secondary Science with Biology - PGCE
Train to teach science and biology to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds on this PGCE course that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
PGCE Secondary Science with Chemistry - PGCE
Train to teach science and chemistry to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds. This PGCE course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
PGCE Secondary Science with Physics - PGCE
Train to teach science and physics to 11 to 16-year-olds and, by arrangement, 16 to 18-year-olds on our PGCE course that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Primary (7-11) (Key Stage 2) - PGCE
Train to teach seven to 11-year-olds on our specialist Key Stage 2 course, with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
More articles like this...
Checking your eligibility to study a pgce, how to prepare for your teacher training application, how to write a good personal statement for pgce application, what to expect at your pgce interview.
Our cookies
We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.
Privacy overview
We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.
The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.
You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.
For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice
Manage consent preferences
Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.
You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.
Functional cookies
These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.
Performance cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.
If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.
Marketing cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.
Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.
How to write a PGCE personal statement
29 th September 2021
- Post on Facebook
- Send to a friend
- Recommend 0
Advice on how to write a PGCE personal statement that shows you’d make a great addition to a teacher training course.
What is a teacher training personal statement?
What to write, pgce personal statement tips.
When applying for a PGCE or postgraduate teacher training, you’ll probably have to write a personal statement. This is your chance to say why you’d make a great teacher by highlighting your relevant experiences and passion for teaching.
If you’re applying directly to a university or school, you should tailor your statement precisely to the course you’re applying for.
If you’re applying through UCAS Teacher Training, you can send your application to more than one university. Therefore, your statement should be more generic so that it applies to each one you’re applying to.
In both cases, make sure that your personal statement reflects the nature of the course or courses you’re applying for. Think about, for example, is it school- or university-based training? What age of students will you be teaching? Will you be specialising in a particular subject?
Before you start writing, look at any information you can find about the course and what you must do to apply. Has the university provided any guidance or topics of what you need to cover?
If not, can you speak to one of the course tutors to discuss what they might want to see in your statement? Or can you talk to a current PGCE student and ask what they wrote in theirs?
When you have a good idea of what admissions tutors will be looking for, create a mind map or list:
- Your relevant academic and practical experiences
- Areas of the course that you’re most interested in
- Anything else the university wants you to include
When structuring your statement, you can use your mind map or list to plan what information to put where.
Your structure can look something like:
- Introduction – about yourself and why you want to do the PGCE
- Middle paragraphs – relevant information of your academic achievements and experiences of working within education
- Concluding paragraph – tying up the main points of why you’re the best candidate for the course
If you’re applying directly to the university, check what the word limit for your personal statement is.
If you’re submitting to UCAS Teacher Training, your personal statement can be up to 47 lines of text or 4,000 characters.
Expanding on your mind map or list from before, think in more depth about why you want to teach.
- What qualities do you have that would make you good at teaching?
- What do you think are the challenges and benefits of being a teacher?
- Why have you chosen this particular age group and/or subject?
- What have you learned from your previous experiences in education?
- Will you be completing any extra exams or relevant experiences before the course starts?
If you studied education at undergraduate level, your course was probably focused on the theoretical side of the subject. Your PGCE course, however, will be about applying those theories to real-life situations in schools. Your personal statement should reflect your understanding of this.
If you haven’t taught before, what other activities or events in your life suggest that you would make a good teacher? Have you worked with children in different environments?
Admissions tutors don’t just want to see why you think your experiences make you a good teacher. Instead, they want to know that you’re aware of the importance of teaching and the demands that come with it.
- Why is it important to reflect on your abilities as a teaching practitioner?
- How will you work on your own development to become a great teacher?
- What interests you about the education system and its challenges?
- Do you have any thoughts are on child welfare and social justice?
When writing, make sure to use evidence and examples to back up your points. Through your tone of voice, try to show that you are positive and passionate about the work.
To see more information on how to style your personal statement, see our postgraduate statements guide.
- Ask someone you know to check it through. Even better if you can get feedback from a teacher
- See if you can speak to other students applying for a PGCE to share thoughts and ideas of what to write
- Similarly, reach out to PGCE staff at your university – or a teacher you know – they have experience that might be valuable to you!
- Any time you can spend in a school will be a valuable addition to your application. If you haven’t already, see if you can arrange to volunteer with one locally
- If you’re invited to an interview, you’ll be asked about what you’ve written on your statement, so be prepared to talk about it in more detail
DON'T MISS OUT
Receive regular newsletters packed with useful tips.
Converting a Postgraduate Certificate to a Masters
PG certificates are a perfect stepping stone to a Masters degree as you’ll not only...
Law and Legal Studies - Postgraduate Guide
As it is a subject that touches many other sectors, there are various postgraduate...
A Postgraduate Timeline
"Where on earth do I start?" That’s generally the first thought that runs through...
Similar articles and videos
Best universities for business studies, best universities for aeronautical and aerospace engineering, best universities for chemistry, best universities for sports science, don't miss out.
- Ask a question Ask
- go advanced Search
- Please enter a title
- Please enter a message
- Your discussion will live here... (Start typing, we will pick a forum for you) Please select a forum Change forum View more forums... View less forums... GCSEs A-levels Applications, Clearing and UCAS University Life Student Finance England Part-time and temporary employment Chat Everyday issues Friends, family and work Relationships Health News Student Surveys and Research
- post anonymously
- All study help
- Uni applications
- University and HE colleges
- University help and courses
- University student life
Postgraduate
- Careers and jobs
- Teacher training
- Finance and accountancy
- Relationships
- Sexual health
- Give feedback or report a problem
- University and university courses
- Universities and HE colleges
- Life and style
- Entertainment
- Debate and current affairs
- Careers and Jobs
- Scottish qualifications
- Foreign languages
- GCSE articles
- A-level articles
- Exam and revision articles
- What to do after GCSEs
- What to do after A-levels
- When is A-level results day 2025?
- When is GCSE results day 2025?
- Studying, revision and exam support
- Grow your Grades
- All universities
- Applying through Ucas
- Student finance
- Personal statement
- Postgraduate study
- Uni accommodation
- University life
- All uni courses
- Apprenticeships
- Arts and humanities courses
- Stem courses
- Social science courses
Universities by region
- North of England
- South of England
- Greater London
- Distance learning
- International study
University guides and articles
- All university articles
- Applying to uni articles
- Personal statements
- Personal statement examples
- University open days
- Studying law at university
- Student life at university
- Careers and jobs discussion
- Apprenticeships discussion
- Part-time and temp jobs
- Career forums by sector
- Armed forces careers
- Consultancy careers
- Finance careers
- Legal careers
- Marketing careers
- Medicine and healthcare careers
- Public sector careers
- Stem careers
- Teaching careers
- General chat
- Relationships chat
- Friends, family and colleagues
- Advice on everyday issues
- General health
- Mental health
- UK and world politics
- Educational debate
Undergraduate
- Postgraduate Master’s Loan
- Postgraduate Doctoral Loan
- Disabled Students’ Allowances
- Taking a break or withdrawing from your course
Further information
- Parents and partners
- Advanced Learner Loan
- Education and teaching personal statements
Personal Statement - PCGE Primary Education 1
Pgce primary education personal statement 1.
Education is vital to every child’s future and I would love to be a part of this. The early years not only provide the academic foundations that shape their later life, but also their attitudes towards schooling, which can affect their future careers and their ability to socialise with peers. Therefore, it is essential that the pupils enjoy their education and learn a lot, which I want to help them achieve.
Although I have not got a degree in a national curriculum subject, I still have a good basis for primary school teaching. Throughout my degree I had to write several essays and practical reports, which improved my scientific writing skills. My A Level in English Language enabled me to gain competency in literacy, as it covered a large amount of grammar and sentence structure, in addition to analysis of texts dating back to the 1600s and creating original articles using information provided by other texts. Psychology is science-orientated and I did A Level Biology, as well as all the sciences individually at GCSE, so I have a good knowledge base in all aspects of science required for primary school level. In particular, biology and psychology also required proficiency in numeracy through using various data analysis techniques, which I gained throughout my education from GCSE Mathematics onwards.
My psychology degree has provided me with a good background to education, as there are areas that aid understanding of children’s thought processes when presented with information. For example, in developmental psychology I learnt how children mature, which can help me to understand their mental capabilities, and use strategies such as scaffolding to aid learning. Cognitive psychology has helped me understand the mechanics of memory and how to utilise this to maximise their retention of information.
As well as a strong theoretical basis for the course, I have good practical experience for teaching. During my degree, I participated in the York Students In Schools programme, where I was placed in the dyslexia unit of a local primary school. The placement was varied, as I was doing different activities such as reading, correcting prose, phonetic tasks and explaining parts of the lessons the children did not understand. I have also used initiative by adapting my assistance to the children based on how much they understood. It also helped improve my communication with both the adults and pupils in the school.
More recently, I obtained a job as a teaching assistant in a Year 3 class. This has proved very informative and interesting, assisting children who are struggling, by giving them more practice in their areas of weakness. The feeling of accomplishment when they understood something they previously could not grasp was very rewarding. It has also taught me the importance of gaining a good rapport with the children, in order for them to respect and listen to you, as well as the need to stay calm when dealing with difficult pupils. I have the responsibility of running the netball club at the school, and this has built upon my leadership skills gained from completing the Community Sports Leader’s Award, which I obtained at college.
From my work experience in education, it is clear to me that I want to work with children in a school setting, as I am keen to make a positive impact on their lives, both academically and also more generally. I believe that I possess the necessary skills to make a good teacher, such as resourcefulness, communication and leadership.
- Share this story :
- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
- Share on Google+
- Share on Pinterest
- Latest Latest
- Trending Trending
- create my feed
- Edit my feed
- 0 new posts
- Started by: Timi1991
- Forum: Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
- Last post: 1 minute ago
- Started by: aminotiddies
- Forum: Medicine
- Last post: 2 minutes ago
- Started by: flabadabadoodaa
- Forum: Applications, Clearing and UCAS
- Last post: 5 minutes ago
- Started by: GANFYD
- Replies: 9454
- Last post: 6 minutes ago
- Started by: agreed-scream
- Forum: Healthcare
- Last post: 8 minutes ago
- Started by: Anonymous
- Forum: University of Oxford
- Last post: 9 minutes ago
- Started by: Ambitious1999
- Forum: UK and World Politics
- Replies: 12
- Started by: Chloe.B
- Forum: Mature Students
- Replies: 34
- Last post: 10 minutes ago
- Started by: Sebastian13
- Forum: Chat
- Last post: 14 minutes ago
- Started by: stony-earthling
- Last post: 19 minutes ago
- Started by: Adam Woodbridge
- Forum: Forum games
- Replies: 262
- Last post: 23 minutes ago
- Started by: Brianstudy01
- Forum: Pharmacy
- Last post: 24 minutes ago
- Forum: Relationships
- Replies: 16
- Last post: 27 minutes ago
- Started by: De Montfort University
- Forum: De Montfort University
- Last post: 29 minutes ago
- Started by: floral-pride
- Forum: Open University
- Started by: Psychidiot12
- Last post: 30 minutes ago
- Started by: cherisek
- Last post: 31 minutes ago
- Started by: lindseywalsh
- Forum: Finance, investment banking and accountancy
- Started by: cvyt112315
- Last post: 34 minutes ago
- Last post: 36 minutes ago
- Started by: Scotland Yard
- Replies: 720
- Last post: 1 hour ago
- Started by: Saracen's Fez
- Replies: 2144
- Last post: 2 hours ago
- Started by: toothysmile
- Forum: Dentistry
- Replies: 176
- Last post: 6 hours ago
- Started by: 04MR17
- Forum: University College London
- Replies: 439
- Last post: 8 hours ago
- Started by: always-anxious
- Forum: Grow your Grades
- Replies: 334
- Last post: 10 hours ago
- Started by: Lazlay
- Forum: Civil service, public sector and public services
- Replies: 1238
- Last post: 12 hours ago
- Started by: KA_P
- Replies: 1134
- Last post: 16 hours ago
- Forum: Oxford Undergraduate
- Replies: 329
- Last post: 1 day ago
- Started by: aishaslm
- Forum: Legal careers and training
- Replies: 208
- Started by: Kelsey1125
- Forum: Graduate Schemes
- Replies: 120
- Started by: MOZSH
- Forum: Medical Schools
- Replies: 539
- Started by: academic.warrior
- Forum: Apprenticeships and alternatives to university
- Replies: 346
- Forum: Cambridge Undergraduate
- Replies: 201
- Started by: Elizabeth200
- Forum: Veterinary Medicine
- Replies: 345
- Last post: 2 days ago
- Forum: Advice on everyday issues
- Replies: 263
- Started by: jambarnzi
- Replies: 80
- Last post: 3 days ago
- Started by: Dellie27
- Replies: 1374
- Last post: 5 days ago
- Replies: 56
- Forum: University of Manchester
- Replies: 862
- Forum: A-levels
- Replies: 47
- Last post: 1 week ago
- A more positive experience than I expected
- About what I expected
- A more negative experience than I expected
- I tried Clearing but didn't end up getting a place
- I didn't use Clearing
- Something else (tell us in the thread)
The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group.
- Main topics
- GCSE and A-level
- Life and relationships
Get Started
- Today's posts
- Unanswered posts
- Community guidelines
- TSR help centre
- Cookies & online safety
- Terms & conditions
- Privacy notice
Connect with TSR
© Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved
The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd.
Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB
- Log in
- Site search
Teaching personal statement examples
Giving you the chance to show why you'd be a great teacher, your personal statement is an important part of your application and worth taking the time over
What is a teaching personal statement?
Your personal statement is used to explain why you want to become a teacher and your suitability for the role. While your application form briefly outlines your qualifications, skills and work experience, your teaching personal statement is where your personality shines through.
Take your time with it. Many candidates often spend a few weeks on this part of the application as you don't have to write it all at once. You should get someone to read over it and be prepared to receive constructive feedback and write a few drafts before you send it off.
It's important to:
- use examples based on your recent teaching experience
- tailor your personal statement according to the school/age group
- use good, clear, written English, using first person terms such as 'my' and 'I'
- be original and honest
- avoid clichés and general statements, such as 'I've always wanted to teach'
- demonstrate a passion for teaching.
While it's crucial to get it right, your teaching personal statement is only a small part of the application process. Find out how else you'll need to prepare to get a teaching job .
How to write a personal statement for teaching
Your personal statement should be between 500 and 1,000 words. It's crucial that you don't copy and that the statement you provide is your own work .
This is your opportunity to:
- write about any relevant skills and experience you have
- explain your understanding of why teaching is important
- detail why you want to become a teacher
- list any extra skills or experience you have, such as volunteering or first aid.
See personal statements for postgraduate applications for more guidance.
The nature of your personal statement will vary, depending on the type of teaching you'd like to pursue. Take a look at some of our example personal statements to get an idea of how they differ.
Personal statement for PGCE primary
As well as focusing on roles in which you've gained experience with primary-age children, a PGCE primary personal statement should demonstrate your well-rounded personality and any skills that could be useful for the range of extra-curricular activities primary schools provide (such as the ability to read music for recorder lessons, or drama experience to help with school plays).
Personal statement for PGCE secondary
Many good PGCE secondary personal statements acknowledge the challenges involved in teaching older pupils and provide examples of where the candidate has worked to overcome these problems. As secondary teaching roles are geared towards teaching a specific subject, training providers are looking for more evidence of your subject and degree knowledge.
Personal statement for School Direct
If you're applying for the salaried School Direct route, you should discuss the experience you've gained in the classroom prior to your application. One of your references will need to be from an employer, or someone who can comment on your work ethic and suitability for teaching. Don't worry if your degree is unrelated to the subject you'd like to teach - you may still be able to apply by completing a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course .
Find out more
- Discover how to structure a teaching CV .
- Find out what it's really like to be a primary or secondary school teacher .
- Search postgraduate courses in teaching .
How would you rate this page?
On a scale where 1 is dislike and 5 is like
- Dislike 1 unhappy-very
- Like 5 happy-very
Thank you for rating the page
Where to start
- Ultimate Guides
- Virtual Work Experiences
- Chat to students
- UCAS events
- Apprenticeships
Subject guides
- Subject tasters
Industry guides
Where to go.
- Universities and colleges
City guides
- Types of employment
- Write a cover letter
- Starting work
- Career quiz
Before you apply
- Campus open days
- What and where to study
- Distance learning
- Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)
- Studying at a college
- Pros and cons of university
Applying to university
- Dates and deadlines
Personal statement
- UCAS Tariff points
- Individual needs
After applying
- Track your application
- Decisions and offers
Results day
Clearing and results day, conservatoires.
- Fees and finance
- How to apply
Replying to offers
- Tracking your application
Postgraduate
- Choosing a course
- Fees, loans, and funding
- Teacher training
- International students
- Student finance
- Scholarships, grants, and bursaries
Additional funding
- Managing money
- Student discounts
Student life
- Starting uni or college
- Mental health and wellbeing
Accommodation
- Accommodation for apprentices
- Accommodation for disabled students
- Apply for student accommodation
- Find the right accommodation
- The ultimate packing list
- Visas and immigration
- English Language Tests (ELTs)
- Choosing the right course
- Entry requirements
- International clearing guide
Financial information
- Available finance options
- Saving money
- UK bank accounts
- Support for refugees and asylum seekers
Extra support
- Adjusting to the UK
- Application tips
- Available support
- Checklist for moving to the UK
- International FAQs
- Support organisations
Student recruitment and marketing
- Drive applications through Clearing
- Drive applications through Extra
- Exhibiting as a university or college
- Improve conversions
- Improve your competitive strategy
- Increase brand awareness
- International
- Provider pages
Data products and solutions
- Application and decision tracker
- Competitor insight dashboard
- Course feasibility
- Leaky Hosepipe solution
- Outreach Elevator
- Student decision report
- Untapped Geographies
Managing applications
- Availability of UCAS data
- Fraud and similarity
- HESA return
- Link services
- Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA)
- Results Processing Service (ABL)
- Systems and services guides
Qualification Information Services
- Qualification Information Profiles (QIPs)
- Qualification guides and resources
- UCAS Tariff
Products as part of your membership
- Recruitment, marketing and admissions services
Provider news and updates
- UCAS correspondents bulletin
Provider developments
- Upcoming developments
- Previous updates
- UCAS maintenance schedule
- Service status
Test and training environments
- HEP1 and HEP2
Link product development
- Availability of new features
- UCAS Link API strategy
- Groups and forums
Admissions guides and resources
- Conservatoire admissions guide and resources
- Provider contact types
- Undergraduate admissions guide and resources
Good practice
- Admissions policies
- Admissions processes
- Applicant experience
- Collection tool help
- Contextualised admissions
- Equality and diversity
- Supporting disadvantages and under-represented groups
- Unconditional offers
- Widening access and participation
Online learning
Provider engagement.
- Annual provider update
Adviser news
- Adviser portal
- Key dates timeline
- Newsletters
- Adviser lives
- Qualification reform
Discovery events
- Getting ready for UCAS Discovery
- Events training
Create your future events
Conferences.
- Teacher and adviser conference 2024
- International Teachers and Advisers Conference
Events calendar 2024
Cycle toolkits.
- Adviser 2025 toolkit
- Conservatoire application toolkit
- Supporting students with individual needs
Lesson activities
- Classroom resources
- Lesson plans
Develop your adviser skills
- Practical ways to guide students
- Help finding work experience
- Events and summer school
- Positive career discussions
- Advice about GCSE choices
Online training
- Personal development platform
- Adviser tips
Tools and resources
- UCAS hub guide
- Digital training
- Progression pathways
Pre application support
- Bursaries, scholarships, and financial support
- Help writing personal statements
- Student budget planner
- Alternatives to A Levels
- Higher education options
Application overview
- Application deadlines
- Application process
- Exam results process
- Monitor student progression
- Predicted grades
- Undergraduate references 2024
- Reference processes and terminology
- Conservatoire references
UCAS registered centres
- Becoming a UCAS registered centre
- Getting started
- Teachers and advisers
International advisers
- Clearing guide for international students
- Qualifications advice
- Supporting international students
Confirmation and Clearing
- ACSL guidance
- Clearing essentials
- Conservatoires confirmation
- International students guide
- Reach talent and acquisition
Apprentices with UCAS
Career finder, employer profiles, multichannel campaigns, apprentices, international guides, make the most of clearing, smart financial decisions, filling in your application, making changes to your application, how to get a reference, results process, application cancellation request form.
- Requests for personal data
- Notifications
- Preferences
- Provider Homepage
- Provider Dashboard
- Student Hub
- Adviser Homepage
- Adviser Portal
- How to write a teacher training personal statement
Teacher Training
- Routes into teaching in England
- PGCE university-led teacher training in England
- School Direct (tuition fee) programmes in England
- School Direct (salaried) programmes in England
- Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship programmes in England
- Teach First Leadership Development Programme
- Assessment Only programmes in England
- Researchers in Schools, including Maths and Physics Chairs programme
- Postgraduate Early Years Initial Teacher Training in England
- Find teacher training programmes
- Train to teach in Northern Ireland
- Explore your options in Scotland
- How to apply for teacher training in Scotland
- Scotland and Wales: What happens next?
- Fees and funding
- Returning to teaching
- Decisions and replies
- Know your rights!
- Preparing for interviews
- Preparing for teacher training
Tips for your teacher training application
Tips for your teaching training application.
If you're looking for programmes in England , use the DfE's ' Apply for teacher training' service . If you're looking for programmes in Wales or Scotland, use UCAS' search tool .
You can only complete one personal statement You can’t change it or create different ones for university or school-based choices. The providers you’re applying to understand this, so they won’t be expecting you to say specific things about them or their programmes. However, if you’re applying for programmes in a particular subject or age group, it would be helpful to explain why you have chosen them, and the skills and attributes you have that make them appropriate for you.
I read hundreds of UCAS applications for teacher training every year, and I cannot stress how important the personal statement is. Claire Harnden, Director of Initial Teacher Training at Surrey South Farnham SCITT
What to include
You do need to think carefully about the things that all your chosen providers will want to know about you. You’ll probably want to include things like:
- your reason(s) for wanting to teach
- evidence that you understand the rewards and challenges of teaching
- details of your previous education and how you have benefitted from it
- any other work with young people, such as helping with a youth club, working at a summer camp or running a sports team
- the range of relevant abilities and skills you can bring to teaching, for example, practical experience, managing people, working with or leading a team, and communication skills
- any reasons why there may be restrictions on your geographical mobility
- why you want to study in the UK, if you don’t currently live here
- whether you have any previous classroom experience, either independently or had a taste of school life via the Get School Experience service .
These are the things all training providers want to know – whether they’re School Direct, a university or a SCITT – so there’s no need to worry that you can’t write different personal statements. Read what SCITT director, Claire Harnden, looks for in a teacher training personal statement .
In addition to the details you give in the school and work experience section, you can also expand on your experience of teaching, such as visits to schools, classroom observations or working as a teaching assistant. To help, read Chris Chivers' tips for completing your teacher training application .
Whatever the route, the process will have similar elements, which are worth considering, so that the appliation has the greatest chance of making an impression. Chris Chivers, experienced ITT tutor and mentor
How to write it
You can use up to 47 lines of text (4,000 characters) in your personal statement. Some word processing packages calculate line counts differently from the UCAS Teacher Training system, so you might need to redraft your statement if there’s a discrepancy between the counts.
- Write in English (or Welsh if you’re applying to Welsh providers) and avoid italics, bold or underlining.
- Get the grammar and punctuation right and redraft your statement until you’re happy with it.
- It’s a good idea to write your personal statement in a word processor first, then copy and paste it into your application.
Don’t copy!
Don’t copy anyone else’s personal statement or from statements posted on the internet. Make sure your personal statement is all your own work.
You might also like to read
Ucas teacher training in england: what happens next, sponsored articles ucas media service, teacher training: three things to consider before you apply, how to prepare for your teacher training interview, how to find a job.
- Sign up for emails
- Find an event
- Pay and benefits
- Teaching as a career
- Explore subjects
- Age groups and specialisms
- View all in Life as a teacher
- Postgraduate teacher training
- Qualifications
- Other routes into teaching
- View all in Train to be a teacher
- Courses with fees
- Courses with a salary
- Extra support
- View all in Fund your training
- Teacher training application
- Teacher training personal statement
- Teacher training references
- When to apply for teacher training
- Teacher training interviews
- Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE)
- If your application is unsuccessful
- View all in How to apply
- If you want to train to teach
- If you're already a teacher
- Get international qualified teacher status (iQTS)
- If you're from Ukraine
- View all in Non-UK citizens
- If you have or are studying for a degree
- How to choose your course
- What to expect in teacher training
- Get school experience
- Teaching internships
- Qualifications you need to be a teacher
- Qualified teacher status (QTS)
- Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
- If you do not have a degree
- If you’ve worked as an unqualified teacher
- If you want to do a teaching apprenticeship
- Tuition fees
- Student finance for teacher training
- Bursaries and scholarships
- Salaried teacher training
- Funding and support if you're disabled
- Funding and support if you're a parent or carer
- Funding and support if you're a veteran
- Train to teach in England as a non-UK citizen
- Fees and financial support for non-UK trainee teachers
- Qualifications you'll need to train to teach in England
- Apply for your visa to train to teach
- Teach in England as a non-UK qualified teacher
- Get an international relocation payment
- Gain the equivalent of English QTS, from outside the UK
- Ukrainian teachers and trainees coming to the UK
Your teacher training personal statement
Your personal statement is your chance to make yourself memorable with teacher training providers and show them why you’ll make a great teacher.
You do not have to write it all at once – you can start it and come back to it. Successful candidates often take a few weeks to write their personal statements.
How long should my teacher training personal statement be?
Your personal statement can be up to 1000 words. 90% of successful candidates write 500 words or more.
What should I write about in my personal statement?
Your personal statement should include:
why you want to be a teacher
why you want to teach the subject or specialism you’re applying for - if you’re applying for primary, describe why you want to teach this age group
the experience and personal characteristics you have, and why they would make you a great teacher
You can include any information you think is relevant to demonstrate your knowledge, qualifications, and experience. Teacher training providers want to see your passion and that you understand what a career in teaching involves.
How to write your personal statement
When writing your personal statement you should make sure you check your spelling and grammar in your application. You want to make the best possible impression.
You can use ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help you write your personal statement. You should not rely on it to write your entire statement because:
AI tools use bland language and will not be able to give details about you as a person. Using them may result in your application being unsuccessful
your account to apply for teacher training may be blocked if you consistently submit personal statements that look like they have been written with AI tools
Do I use the same personal statement for each application?
You can use the same personal statement for every course you apply to.
However, there may be some instances where you’d like to tailor it to different courses.
For example, if you want to apply to train to teach maths and also to train to teach physics. In this case, you might want to change your personal statement to talk more specifically about the subject you’re applying to train to teach.
Should my personal statement be different if I’m training to teach primary or secondary?
You should use your personal statement to explain why you feel passionate about teaching a specific age range or subject.
If you’re applying for a primary course with a subject specialism, or you’re particularly interested in certain primary subjects, you can talk about that, too.
If you’re not sure if you want to teach primary or secondary, you can find out more about teaching different age groups .
Do I need school experience?
You do not need school experience to apply for teacher training, but it can help strengthen your personal statement.
Teacher training providers like to see that you have a good understanding of teaching, how the school system works and what your transferable skills are. You need more than just good subject knowledge and school experience can be a great way to get this.
Getting some school experience can also be a good way to make sure teaching is right for you before you apply for a course.
Find out how you could get school experience .
Get help with your personal statement
You can get help with your personal statement from our teacher training advisers . They have years of teaching experience and can give you free, one-to-one support by phone, text, or email.
Advisers can also help you understand more about what teaching is really like, which can help improve your application.
Having a teacher training adviser was really beneficial when editing my personal statement and preparing for interviews. My top tips for the application process would be to get an adviser, and to think about what transferrable skills you have when writing your personal statement and answering interview questions. Felix, former teacher trainee
Start your application
Create an account and start your application for a teacher training course.
Apply for a course
Get free one-to-one support
Maximise your chances of submitting a successful application with the support of a dedicated adviser with years of teaching experience. Chat to an adviser through phone, text or email.
Chat online
Chat is closed
Chat not available Email: [email protected]
0800 389 2500
Call or chat to us Monday to Friday, 8:30am until 5:30pm , except on bank holidays (opens in new window) .
Whether it's just an idea or you're ready to apply, you could get personalised support from an adviser with years of teaching experience. Chat to them by phone, email or text as little or as often as you need.
We use cookies to collect information about how you use this website. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible, and improve this website. We also share some of this information with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.
Register now for
Please leave this field empty.
How did you hear about us?* Website Social Media Search Engine Recommended
Please answer: What is 1 + 3?
First Name*
Email Address* Please leave this field empty.
Telephone No
Your Enquiry*
Please answer 2 + 1 = *
Writing a personal statement for a PGCE
How To Write a PGCE Personal Statement
Your personal statement is crucial to the success of your application and must be well written, concise, well-structured. It must also clearly demonstrate your reasons for choosing teaching and your commitment and suitability for this career in only 47 lines!
Before applying, do your research. Find out what being a teacher is really like. Get experience in a school, talk to teachers and read careers information.
General Tips:
- Compose your statement in Word and cut and paste it into your online application. This will allow you to ensure it fits, that you have used spell check and have proofread it to ensure its word perfect. Personal statements with a poor level of written English will be rejected.
- Use Verdana 12 as this is the size and font used by UCAS.
- Ensure it has a good structure with an introduction, a middle and a conclusion.
- Get someone to check your final draft who is knowledgeable in this area and whose judgement you trust.
- Research the Training Provider you are applying for. Which skills/experience/qualifications do they expect?
Your Personal Statement should:
- be persuasive
- be fluent, realistic, relevant and specific
- mention young people- it is about enabling them to learn rather than why you want to teach
- overuse of short sentences all beginning with ‘I’
- general statements and narrative
- I feel/think/believe – instead, use positive action words e.g. planned/managed/implemented/organised
- making a statement without having evidence to back it up
Sections in your Personal Statement:
- Introduction- why teaching and why you?
- The relevance of your work experience
- What subject you want to teach and why?
- Additional factors
- Concluding paragraph
1.Introduction
Why teaching?
- What is your motivation? What has influenced your decision to teach? Avoid ‘I have always wanted to teach’ or ‘I believe teaching is worthwhile’ or ‘I like children’.
- Concentrate on what influenced your decision to teach, how the idea has developed and what can you offer in terms of personal skills and attributes.
- Have certain people influenced you? Why? How?
- Show your desire to work with young people and refer to evidence.
Make a list of skills and qualities that you have that can be linked to all the key skills that make an effective teacher and how you can demonstrate this with examples:
- Organisation
- Communication
- Energy & enthusiasm
- Responsibility
- Love of subject
- Team player
2.Relevant Experience
School-based experience:
- Where? Try to avoid visiting the school you attended as a pupil
- How long for? One day is probably not enough time to see what it means to be a teacher, you need enough time to gain a good understanding of teaching and schools.
- What did you do? Did you observe lessons, work as a TA, attend meetings/training/ research curriculum/teaching and learning/had a focus on EAL or SEND pupils?
- What Key Stages did you experience? Make sure it is relevant to the specific PGCE course you are applying for.
- What techniques did you observe? Effective and not effective and why?
- Lesson-planning
- Classroom organisation
- Classroom management
- Inclusion/ diversity issues e.g. English as an additional language (EAL); special educational needs (SEND); disadvantaged pupils and gifted and talented pupils.
Always say what you have done and how it demonstrates the skills required as a teacher. For example, ‘reading with a group of pupils showed me that…’ or ‘working with a low ability group allowed me to…’
Other work with young people (paid/unpaid):
- Youth groups
- After school groups
- Summer camps
What if you don’t have any relevant experience?
Highlight the other experiences you have engaged in and use these to demonstrate your understanding of teaching and schools.
3. What subject you want to teach and why?
- For Secondary, you need to show that you are passionate about your subject area and passing on that enthusiasm to young people.
- Link to relevant work experience, what have you observed and match your skills to this.
- Refer to any research you have done regarding your subject and also the curriculum/ examinations you would be required to teach at that Key Stage
- Link your qualifications and wider reading to your subject knowledge, if your qualifications are not relevant you need to show how you are going to develop your subject knowledge in order to teach the subject.
- State why you have applied to this particular type of PGCE course e.g. school-based/ flexibility/ reputation.
4. Additional Factors
- Hobbies linked to the profession/ skill set e.g. value-added skills such as sport, music, language etc.
- Additional courses you have completed/ completing e.g. ICT, subject knowledge enhancement course etc.
- Further experiences planned for the future prior to commencing a PGCE course.
5. Concluding Paragraph
- State your commitment to the course, acknowledge that teaching requires dedication, stamina, time management, being pro-active
- Reinforce your reasons for being committed to teaching
- Demonstrate awareness of the physical and mental demands of the course and the profession
- Career plan – what is your goal for your teaching career?
A teacher’s must-have qualities:
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to think of their feet
- Good time-management
Background Reading
www.ucas.com/ucas/teacher-training
Times Educational Supplement ( www.tes.com )
www.theguardian.com/education
Ready to apply for a course with us? Visit our How to Apply section for what to do next
Find out about training with Leeds SCITT - take a look at our upcoming events and reserve your place today
We use cookies on this website, by continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more .
- Applying to Uni
- Apprenticeships
- Health & Relationships
- Money & Finance
Personal Statements
- Postgraduate
- U.S Universities
University Interviews
- Vocational Qualifications
- Accommodation
- Budgeting, Money & Finance
- Health & Relationships
- Jobs & Careers
- Socialising
Studying Abroad
- Studying & Revision
- Technology
- University & College Admissions
Guide to GCSE Results Day
Finding a job after school or college
Retaking GCSEs
In this section
Choosing GCSE Subjects
Post-GCSE Options
GCSE Work Experience
GCSE Revision Tips
Why take an Apprenticeship?
Applying for an Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships Interviews
Apprenticeship Wage
Engineering Apprenticeships
What is an Apprenticeship?
Choosing an Apprenticeship
Real Life Apprentices
Degree Apprenticeships
Higher Apprenticeships
A Level Results Day 2024
AS Levels 2024
Clearing Guide 2024
Applying to University
SQA Results Day Guide 2024
BTEC Results Day Guide
Vocational Qualifications Guide
Sixth Form or College
International Baccalaureate
Post 18 options
Finding a Job
Should I take a Gap Year?
Travel Planning
Volunteering
Gap Year Blogs
Applying to Oxbridge
Applying to US Universities
Choosing a Degree
Choosing a University or College
Personal Statement Editing and Review Service
Clearing Guide
Guide to Freshers' Week
Student Guides
Student Cooking
Student Blogs
Top Rated Personal Statements
Personal Statement Examples
Writing Your Personal Statement
Postgraduate Personal Statements
International Student Personal Statements
Gap Year Personal Statements
Personal Statement Length Checker
Personal Statement Examples By University
Personal Statement Changes 2025
Personal Statement Template
Job Interviews
Types of Postgraduate Course
Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement
Postgraduate Funding
Postgraduate Study
Internships
Choosing A College
Ivy League Universities
Common App Essay Examples
Universal College Application Guide
How To Write A College Admissions Essay
College Rankings
Admissions Tests
Fees & Funding
Scholarships
Budgeting For College
Online Degree
Platinum Express Editing and Review Service
Gold Editing and Review Service
Silver Express Editing and Review Service
UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service
Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service
Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service
You are here
Teacher training personal statement example (primary pgce) 2.
I am one of ten, so you may see why I would like to work with children. I wasn't always sure as to what profession I would like to join but for the past couple of years it has became apparent that I want to work with children. This was mainly influenced by a new addition to my family, my nephew.
For the past year I have helped develop his skills and encouraged him to learn new things. I truly value the sense of achievement gained in teaching new skills to children and I wish to continue to do so, and this is therefore one of the main reasons for wanting to join a teaching course for key stages 1 and 2.
Discovering my love for helping and supporting others I chose to broaden my knowledge of the teaching experience by completing two work experience placements within a primary school environment. For two weeks I shadowed various teaching staff, observing their teaching techniques and the ways in which they support the children.
I found each day a new challenge as new faces, new personalities were emerging which brought various obstacles my way as different methods of teaching were needed. The most enjoyable aspect of this work environment is that no day is ever the same. -New lessons, new people. It was exciting to know I had the opportunity to assist in someone's learning, gaining satisfaction from seeing the new skill acquired.
This particular experience, working within a primary school environment, allowed me to acquire a number of skills and also help enhance my weaker ones. I have always acknowledged the fact that I can be a very good listener and a good communicator which is an important quality needed. I found that my communication ability improved as I got to know students which encouraged my confidence to escalate.
I am able to work well independently and can also work very well as part as a team, which became obvious to me during my stay at my placement. I have also demonstrated this throughout the majority of my school experience, for example, when playing team sports, such as Netball, Rounders, Badminton, Athletics, etc.
During my school experience I have embarked on a number of activities which exhibit my more positive qualities that I have thoroughly developed within the past few years. Such activities include helping out at events such as Open Days, Parents' Evenings, Welcome Club, etc. In doing so, I have shown I am a polite, mature, organized and committed young adult.
I am currently a School Prefect and buddy, working closely with the years 7, 8 and 9 students. My role is to represent the school in a positive and professional manner. I believe I do this well as I portray an enthusiastic, responsible and reliable image. In order for me to have been considered to be a Prefect or a buddy I needed to have the essential qualities for that particular role.
Such qualities needed are congruence, resilience and assertiveness. These specific qualities, I believe, have been made evident to my teaching staff as a result of the community work in school I have taken part in. I have accomplished my British Red Cross basic First Aid certificate which I completed at school. I have also achieved my Food Hygiene, Business Dynamics and Junior Sports Leadership Certificates.
I am very much looking forward to expanding my practical and theoretical knowledge by attending university. In pursuing a degree in teaching, I seek to advance my knowledge of educational studies and improve my personal skills. I ask you to give me the opportunity to further my education as I know I have the commitment, the patience and the persistence to succeed.
Profile info
This personal statement was written by esther for application in 2007.
esther's Comments
constructive criticism please =] and thankyou very much for your comments and thankyou in advance =] =] I am applying for the following universities: Gloustershire, Manchester Metropollian, Wocester, Winchester and Wolverhampton
Related Personal Statements
Wed, 03/10/2007 - 11:58
i think this statement is amazing :D i'd definatley use this as mine whoever did this deserves to get a place at their university of their choice
very good!! im very proud of
Wed, 03/10/2007 - 12:34
very good!! im very proud of you even though i dont know you!! lmao
yh this is a good personal
Wed, 03/10/2007 - 12:44
yh this is a good personal statement. well done =]
Wed, 03/10/2007 - 19:41
Thought it was great I hope
Fri, 05/10/2007 - 13:32
Thought it was great I hope thawt you achieve your goal you deserve to
slightly too repetitive with
Sat, 06/10/2007 - 09:28
slightly too repetitive with grammar mistakes. i felt you needed to push on and tell us your interests outside of education. Its what they want also, depite the positive critism, overall a decently constructed statement, good luck.
very very good - only thing
Mon, 08/10/2007 - 19:52
very very good - only thing missing is personal info well done!!!
I like the sentence structure
Tue, 09/10/2007 - 18:55
I like the sentence structure, it is very well done, and good use of vocabularies, however, spelling errors, and grammar needs work.
this statement has really
Tue, 23/10/2007 - 17:43
this statement has really helped me in writing mine - thank you
i think that this statement
Tue, 30/10/2007 - 14:47
i think that this statement is amzing! i think you have done a very good job at writting it and im jealous! im trying to write mine just now but i seem to have writters block :( any tips? xx
This statement is very boring
Tue, 20/11/2007 - 14:09
This statement is very boring and also very long fix it up
Sun, 06/01/2008 - 13:37
I am applying for a place on a Graduate Teacher Programme... your statment has helped me with ideas on how to 'sell myself'!
Firstly, I would like to
Fri, 18/01/2008 - 12:20
Firstly, I would like to congratulate this person for the amazing Personal Statement that has written. I think that it sounds very honest and realiable. Although it is a bit too long. CONGRATULATIONS
Mon, 21/01/2008 - 04:39
i think it's very good and interesting :)))
Tue, 04/03/2008 - 14:58
dis personal statment help me to find out why i would like to do teaching as well.fanx xx
not brilliant. dont get me
Thu, 27/03/2008 - 18:28
not brilliant. dont get me wrong its good. but its dodgy gramatically. and looooong
Really good
Sun, 20/04/2008 - 16:39
I'd be interested to know if you ogt the placement after sending this in?
Wed, 30/04/2008 - 20:19
what an outstanding statement
This statement has really
Thu, 01/05/2008 - 10:39
This statement has really helped me with some ideas for mine. Thank you.
Fantastic!!!
Sun, 29/06/2008 - 20:06
This is really good with the right length of information. Well done wish you all the best! :)
this personal statement
Wed, 02/07/2008 - 16:54
this personal statement helped me soooo much - i just did not know where to start and i thought that this one was way better than the example that my tutor gave me. it gave me so many ideas. thank-you so much!
This helped me alot although
Tue, 08/07/2008 - 11:36
This helped me alot although it is quite long and you need to check through your grammar.
Sun, 21/09/2008 - 14:05
posted by Rummana
Tue, 23/09/2008 - 12:45
i believe that very gud yes yes very gud! me like long words and full stops used very well, gud job! and i want to say thank you fo lettin me read dis it very nice of you to give me guidence thank you bye bye
i think this is a good
Wed, 01/10/2008 - 20:07
i think this is a good statement. it has helped me with my personal statement, as i didnt have a clue where to even start!!
this a really gud statment,
Tue, 14/10/2008 - 13:32
this a really gud statment, all the best wishes, gud luk you deserve it. well done
You made some good points,
Wed, 05/11/2008 - 14:08
You made some good points, but obvioulsy thought they were so good you needed to repeat them, two or times over. Otherwise impressive :]
interesting and good but
Thu, 06/11/2008 - 18:06
interesting and good but should have mentioned your out of education skills. in otherwards what interests you apart from teaching.
Wed, 19/11/2008 - 17:35
This personal statement is very analytical and you have covered crucial points to enable you a place on a teaching course..well done and good luck!
Helped thank you
Fri, 21/11/2008 - 19:18
Helped me to write my personal statement as my shool did very little to show me what i was actually meant to do!! Thank you!! =]
This is the best statement i
Thu, 26/03/2009 - 16:37
This is the best statement i have read and have used this to help me. thanks.
this is good but like some
Wed, 13/05/2009 - 14:37
this is good but like some others said a little repetitive but go you for trying!!
Thu, 15/10/2009 - 07:22
This personal statement is really good and maybe i'll use some of the things in it that i applies to me
why is it so hard to write a
Fri, 22/01/2010 - 12:04
why is it so hard to write a personal statement??
very long, repetitive, and
Thu, 18/02/2010 - 17:39
very long, repetitive, and grammer and spelling needs checking. otherwise okay
I wouldn't give you a place
Fri, 17/09/2010 - 09:44
I wouldn't give you a place if it was upto me, sorry but how far up yourself can you be? Do you only go to school? There is nothing about outside of school.
Thu, 23/09/2010 - 11:24
i think this is very good thanks dudealicous
thanks babe
this is an excellent personal
Thu, 14/10/2010 - 21:39
this is an excellent personal statement you realy know what you are talking about, I am applying for the same thing so i hope alongside you i get a place in the uni's i am opting for. x
People are saying this is too
Thu, 21/10/2010 - 17:53
People are saying this is too long, but its not! you are actually under! its 4000 characters and this is one 3 and half. Its a given me a good insight to how it has been done! Thanks!
very good and helpful
Wed, 17/11/2010 - 12:44
very good and helpful just 1 question 1 0f 10 wtf? r ur parents rabbits
Thu, 29/09/2011 - 11:55
this is such a good personal statement and really helped me with mine- thankyou! :)
Did Wolverhampton give you a
Thu, 13/10/2011 - 14:38
Did Wolverhampton give you a place?
wow! what an amazing
Tue, 10/01/2012 - 18:58
wow! what an amazing statement! definitely given me inspiration to re-write mine x
Very good! I'm currently
Sat, 22/09/2012 - 15:45
Very good! I'm currently writing mine (well, trying to write it) so yours helped me A LOT! Thanks!x
COMMENTS
Example personal statement for PGCE primary. In my early education, reading and writing were a challenge. At age nine I received a diagnosis of dyslexia bringing with it extra support from the school. This gave me a real determination to overcome my disability. It drove me to study hard, achieve high GCSE and A-level grades and go on to achieve ...
Primary Teacher Personal Statement Example. One day, I hope to become a primary teacher. Primary and secondary education have both been highly positive experiences for me. It is my desire to inspire and encourage children of all abilities to achieve their full potential that drives me to apply for primary education.
PGCE Personal Statement Sample. Learning is natural, necessary and nurtured aspect of life. Being a teacher will allow me to become an important figure in this process, where I endeavour to impart knowledge, expand perceptions and provide life tools during a critical stage in development. Work experience, interpersonal skills and a solid ...
Teacher Training Personal Statement Example (Primary PGCE) 1. I have chosen to apply for a primary teaching degree because I enjoy working with children. I have a strong interest in teaching and the learning process of children. This is been confirmed by my work experience report. Which states that, I get on well with the children and am shown ...
Teacher Training Personal Statement Example (Primary PGCE) 4. I am currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood studies at Birmingham University. It is my ambition to go on to study for a Primary PGCE. I became interested in teaching whilst raising my own children. I have experienced first hand a child's apprehension and delight on ...
This PGCE personal statement examples resource is perfect to help anyone when it comes to writing their statements. This document has a wealth of information that will guide you through a process that can be difficult at times. It includes: Knowledge and interest in the subject area. Suitability for the course.
Simply saying, "I would be good at this role and am well suited to it" isn't enough. The PGCE provider needs to read real examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities and meet their requirements. PGCE Personal Statement. Here are some details you may want to include in your personal statement: 1. About You.
Your personal statement should be: no more than 1000 words. written in the first-person. grammatically correct - we suggest writing in a document before adding to your application. your own work, don't copy from anywhere online. structured correctly with a clear introduction, evidenced paragraphs and a conclusion.
Contact. Inspire your Primary Education personal statement with our UCAS examples and learn from previous students who have already applied to university.
Teacher Training Personal Statement Example (Primary PGCE) 9. Education is defined in its broadest sense as any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. This statement has etched an indelible and deeply profound mark on my recent career choices and philosophy...
Your structure can look something like: Introduction - about yourself and why you want to do the PGCE. Middle paragraphs - relevant information of your academic achievements and experiences of working within education. Concluding paragraph - tying up the main points of why you're the best candidate for the course.
This is an example personal statement. There is considerable room for improvement and the notes make suggestions to help you with writing yours. Dear. I am applying for the PGDE course because I have always wanted to be a teacher. I really like working with children and think that I have the right kinds of skills to become a good teacher. Notes
PGCE Primary Education Personal Statement 1. Education is vital to every child's future and I would love to be a part of this. The early years not only provide the academic foundations that shape their later life, but also their attitudes towards schooling, which can affect their future careers and their ability to socialise with peers.
Personal statement for PGCE primary As well as focusing on roles in which you've gained experience with primary-age children, a PGCE primary personal statement should demonstrate your well-rounded personality and any skills that could be useful for the range of extra-curricular activities primary schools provide (such as the ability to read ...
Teacher Training Personal Statement Example (Primary PGCE) 6. My ultimate goal is to become a primary school teacher. I have a fondness for children and believe that they can be taught valuable life lessons during their time in primary school in addition to the content of the National Curriculum. This will help them to grow emotionally and ...
PGCE Personal Statement Example. I would like to study a PGCE as I embrace teaching as an opportunity to engage pupils in subjects about which I am passionate. I am confident that I am suited to study a PGCE because this particular course of study allows developing teachers to apply their specialist subject (s) in a creative way.
How to write it. You can use up to 47 lines of text (4,000 characters) in your personal statement. Some word processing packages calculate line counts differently from the UCAS Teacher Training system, so you might need to redraft your statement if there's a discrepancy between the counts. Write in English (or Welsh if you're applying to ...
Your personal statement should include: why you want to be a teacher. why you want to teach the subject or specialism you're applying for - if you're applying for primary, describe why you want to teach this age group. the experience and personal characteristics you have, and why they would make you a great teacher.
Teacher Training Personal Statement Example (Primary PGCE) 10. I am applying to study within the education department because I have a keen interest to work with younger children and pursue a career as a primary school teacher. I believe primary school teachers are extremely important as they support children through their first experience of ...
5 Tips to help you write your PGCE personal statement. Professionalism and attention to detail are all skills that you can show off just by making your personal statement clean and tidy. Structure it with a clear introduction, main body and conclusion. Make sure that you leave plenty of time to proofread what you've written.
Teacher Training Personal Statement Example (Primary PGCE) 5. I am a hard-working, responsible, friendly girl with a strong passion to pursue a career in primary school teaching. I believe that to become an excellent teacher you must have a desire to assist children in the learning process and this is one quality which I feel I definitely possess.
Your Personal Statement should: be persuasive. be fluent, realistic, relevant and specific. mention young people- it is about enabling them to learn rather than why you want to teach. be honest. Avoid: overuse of short sentences all beginning with 'I'. general statements and narrative.
I ask you to give me the opportunity to further my education as I know I have the commitment, the patience and the persistence to succeed. This personal statement was written by esther for application in 2007. esther's Comments. constructive criticism please =] and thankyou very much for your comments and thankyou in advance =] =]