Supply Teacher CV Example
A supply teacher CV demonstrates your adaptability, quick lesson planning skills, and ability to maintain classroom standards in unfamiliar school environments.
Recommended template: VibrantPro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Highlight your ability to step into any classroom and deliver effective lessons.
- Include the range of subjects and key stages you are confident teaching.
- Detail your approach to establishing rules and routines quickly in new settings.
- Showcase positive feedback from schools and supply agencies you have worked with.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Supply Teacher CV
A supply teacher CV should demonstrate your versatility, reliability, and ability to deliver effective teaching in any school at short notice. Schools and supply agencies want to see that you can walk into an unfamiliar classroom, establish your authority quickly, and deliver engaging lessons while maintaining the school's behaviour standards. Your CV should highlight the breadth of your experience, the feedback you have received, and your professional approach to every booking.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with a profile, supply teaching experience, previous permanent roles, education, and skills. List the schools or agencies you have worked with and the key stages and subjects covered. Include any long-term placements with details of the role and your achievements. Keep to two pages.
CV Format
Use a clean, professional template. Supply agencies and school office managers review many CVs quickly, so clarity is essential. Include your DBS status, agency registrations, and availability prominently. Save as PDF.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Supply Teacher
Versatile and adaptable QTS-qualified supply teacher with six years of experience covering short-term and long-term placements across primary and secondary schools in the West Midlands. Confident teaching across all primary year groups and secondary English and humanities up to KS4. Registered with two leading supply agencies with consistently positive school feedback for professionalism, behaviour management, and the ability to deliver engaging cover lessons at short notice.
Primary Supply Teacher
Reliable and enthusiastic primary supply teacher with four years of experience covering in schools ranging from one-form entry village schools to large urban primaries. Experienced in delivering planned lessons and creating engaging cover activities when plans are unavailable. Known for establishing routines quickly, building positive relationships with pupils, and leaving detailed handover notes for returning teachers.
Supply Teacher — Returning to Teaching
QTS-qualified teacher returning to the profession after a five-year career break, seeking supply teaching opportunities to rebuild classroom experience. Previously taught secondary science for seven years in two comprehensive schools, achieving strong GCSE results. Currently updating subject knowledge through CPD courses and holds a renewed enhanced DBS check. Available for immediate day-to-day and longer-term supply bookings.
State your QTS status, years of supply and permanent teaching experience, and the key stages and subjects you cover. Mention your agency registrations and any notable feedback. Highlight your adaptability and professionalism.
Key Skills for Your Supply Teacher CV
Adaptability
Adjusting quickly to unfamiliar school environments, policies, and pupil needs to deliver effective teaching from the first lesson.
Rapid Lesson Planning
Creating engaging, curriculum-aligned lessons at short notice when pre-planned work is unavailable or insufficient.
Behaviour Management
Establishing authority and rapport quickly in new classrooms through clear expectations, consistent boundaries, and positive reinforcement.
Classroom Confidence
Projecting calm authority and professionalism that puts pupils and school staff at ease, regardless of the setting.
Multi-Subject Teaching
Teaching confidently across multiple subjects and year groups, drawing on a broad curriculum knowledge and flexible resource bank.
Safeguarding
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding procedures and adapting to each school's specific reporting protocols.
Flexibility
Accommodating changes in booking schedules, school locations, and class assignments with a positive and professional attitude.
Professional Conduct
Representing yourself and your supply agency with consistently high standards of punctuality, dress, and communication.
Handover Communication
Providing clear, detailed notes to returning teachers on lesson coverage, pupil behaviour, and any incidents or concerns.
Work Experience Examples
Present your supply teaching experience as a single role with the agency name, describing the range of schools, year groups, and your approach. Follow with any permanent teaching positions. Include feedback metrics such as rebook rates or school commendations. Detail any long-term placements separately with specific achievements.
Supply Teacher
Protocol Education / Various Primary Schools, Birmingham
Provided day-to-day and medium-term supply cover across approximately 25 primary schools in Birmingham and Solihull, covering all year groups from Reception to Year 6.
Responsibilities
- Delivered pre-planned lessons left by absent class teachers, adapting activities as needed to match the ability range of the class.
- Created engaging cover lessons at short notice when plans were unavailable, using personal resource banks covering core subjects and foundation topics.
- Established clear behaviour expectations and routines within the first minutes of entering each classroom, applying each school's individual behaviour policy.
- Completed detailed handover notes for the class teacher at the end of each day, covering work completed, behaviour, and any incidents or concerns.
- Maintained safeguarding awareness across multiple settings, following each school's procedures for reporting concerns and managing visitors and fire drills.
Achievements
- Maintained a 98% rebook rate with supply agency schools, indicating consistently positive feedback from headteachers and school office staff.
- Completed a three-month long-term placement as Year 4 class teacher, receiving a commendation from the headteacher for pupil progress during the period.
- Built a personal bank of 50 ready-to-use lesson plans across all primary subjects, enabling high-quality delivery even with minimal preparation time.
Teacher of English
Kenilworth Academy, Coventry
Held a permanent teaching position for four years delivering English across KS3 and KS4 before transitioning to supply teaching for greater flexibility.
Responsibilities
- Planned and delivered English Language and Literature lessons to mixed-ability classes of up to 30 students in Years 7 to 11.
- Assessed student work in line with department policy, providing detailed written feedback and contributing to termly data collection.
- Led a Year 11 intervention group for students targeting grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
- Contributed to department meetings, curriculum planning, and school events including a whole-school reading week.
Achievements
- Achieved 72% grade 4+ in GCSE English Language, exceeding the school target by 5 percentage points.
- Received an Outstanding lesson observation grade from the assistant headteacher during a formal lesson drop-in.
Education & Qualifications
List your PGCE and degree first. Include your QTS status and DBS check details. Add any recent CPD that demonstrates your commitment to staying current in the profession, especially if returning after a career break.
QTS
Qualified Teacher Status, the professional standard required for supply teaching in maintained schools.
PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education providing the initial teacher training foundation.
Enhanced DBS on Update Service
A portable DBS check that allows schools to verify your clearance instantly, essential for supply teaching.
Safeguarding Training (Annual)
Up-to-date safeguarding training demonstrating awareness of current child protection guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I present supply teaching on my CV?
Do I need to be registered with a supply agency?
How do I manage behaviour as a supply teacher?
Can supply teaching lead to permanent positions?
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