School Principal Resume Example

Overview

Headteacher resumes are different from most other resumes. The hiring panel is usually a group of governors, sometimes with an external adviser, and they are looking for evidence of school improvement. Not potential. Not enthusiasm. Evidence. Ofsted outcomes, exam data, budget management, staff retention. If you cannot put a number on it, they will not shortlist you.

This resume belongs to Margaret Houghton, a headteacher in Sheffield with 16 years in education and 5 years in senior leadership. She took Fir Vale School from Requires Improvement to Good in her first Ofsted cycle. Before that, she was deputy head at Meadowhead School and head of maths at Silverdale School.

What makes this resume effective is that it reads like a school improvement plan in miniature. Every bullet has a baseline, an action, and an outcome. Let us go through it.

Lead with Ofsted and exam data

For a headship resume, these are the numbers that matter most. This resume leads with them:

"Moved the school from Requires Improvement to Good in the March 2024 Ofsted inspection"

"GCSE grade 4+ in English and Maths rose from 41% to 58% over three years"

Those two lines alone would get you shortlisted for most headship interviews. They show measurable school improvement over a defined period. The before-and-after format is critical here. "58% achieved grade 4+" on its own does not mean much. But "41% to 58%" tells a story of improvement.

If you are a deputy head applying for your first headship, use your department-level data or whole-school data you were responsible for. From Margaret's deputy head entry:

"Led the school's Progress 8 strategy, score improved from -0.12 to +0.21 over 3 years"

Progress 8 is a metric every governor knows. Going from negative to positive is significant. Use whatever data framework applies to your context (Attainment 8, ALPs, FFT estimates) and show the direction of travel.

Staff development and retention

Governors know that teacher recruitment is brutal. If you can show you kept staff and developed them, that is a genuine differentiator.

"Reduced staff turnover from 22% to 9% by introducing a structured CPD programme and coaching triads"

That is a concrete claim with a clear mechanism. Not "invested in staff wellbeing." The actual strategy: CPD programme and coaching triads. And the result: turnover dropped by more than half.

From the deputy head role:

"Designed the whole-school CPD programme for 72 teaching staff, external review rated it Outstanding"

If you designed training programmes, introduced mentoring schemes, or improved NQT retention, include it. Governors want to know you can build a team that stays.

Budget and financial management

Many headteacher job descriptions require evidence of budget management. This resume includes two strong financial bullets:

"Secured £340,000 in DfE funding for a new SEND resource base opened in September 2023"

"Managed a deficit recovery plan, brought the budget from -£180,000 to a £45,000 surplus in 2 years"

The second one is particularly strong because deficit recovery is a real skill that not every head has demonstrated. If you have managed a large budget, balanced a deficit, or won external funding, put the figures on the page.

Building a career narrative from classroom to headship

This resume shows a clear path: classroom teacher, head of department, deputy head, headteacher. Each role builds on the last. And each entry proves something specific.

The classroom teacher role at King Edward VII School includes:

"Ran a weekly after-school UKMT maths challenge club, 4 students reached the national final"

The head of department role at Silverdale shows curriculum leadership:

"GCSE Maths grade 4+ rose from 58% to 72% during my 4 years as head of department"

The deputy head role shows whole-school impact. And the headship shows system-level leadership. If you are building your career toward headship, think about what each role proves and make sure the resume reflects that progression clearly.

NPQH and qualifications

The NPQH is the standard qualification for aspiring headteachers. This resume lists it alongside QTS and DSL training. If you have completed the NPQH, it goes near the top of your qualifications section. If you are currently studying for it, include it with an expected completion date.

Other relevant qualifications: NPQSL (Senior Leadership), safeguarding training, and any specialist qualifications in SEND, behaviour, or curriculum design.

Mistakes that cost headteachers interviews

Writing in education jargon only. Governors are not all educators. Some are business people, parents, or community members. Phrases like "implemented a metacognitive approach to KS3 pedagogy" need translating. Say what you did in terms anyone can understand.

Not showing financial awareness. Headship is partly a business role. If your resume does not mention budgets, funding, or financial planning, governors will worry about whether you can manage the money.

Vague Ofsted references. "Contributed to a successful Ofsted inspection" is too vague. State the outcome (Good, Outstanding), when it happened, and what your specific contribution was.

Ignoring the governance relationship. If you have worked closely with governors, chaired committees, or presented to the governing body, mention it. Governors want a head who sees them as partners, not obstacles.

One more thing

Read the school's most recent Ofsted report before writing your application. Tailor your resume to address the areas for improvement they identified. If the report says "leaders need to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils," your resume should have a bullet about Pupil Premium strategy and closing the gap. The governors will have read that report many times. Show them you have read it too.