You know how to inspire students to love literature, craft powerful essays, and find their voice through words. You’ve spent countless hours planning engaging lessons, marking assignments, and celebrating those breakthrough moments when a student finally “gets it”. But when it comes to writing a cover letter for an English Teacher role, you’re staring at a blank page. How do you capture your teaching philosophy, classroom management skills, and genuine passion for literature without sounding clichéd? And how do you stand out when every other applicant is equally enthusiastic about fostering a love of reading?
If you’re struggling to translate your teaching experience into a compelling one-page narrative, you’re not alone. English Teacher cover letters need to demonstrate both your subject expertise and your ability to connect with diverse learners—all while following professional standards. The good news? With the right structure and approach, you can craft a cover letter that positions you as the engaging, knowledgeable educator every Australian school is looking for.
This comprehensive guide walks you through writing an English Teacher cover letter tailored to Australian schools. You’ll find a complete example, formatting guidelines, section-by-section breakdowns, and practical tips to help you stand out whether you’re applying through Seek, school websites, or state education department portals like Teach NSW or Teach Victoria. Let’s transform your teaching experience into your next career opportunity.
English Teacher Cover Letter Example (Text Version)
Sophie Anderson
[email protected]
0434 789 012
linkedin.com/in/sophieanderson
Brisbane, QLD 4000
2 October 2025
Ms Rachel Foster
Principal
Riverside Secondary College
88 Education Avenue
Brisbane, QLD 4000
Dear Ms Foster,
When I read about Riverside Secondary College’s commitment to developing critical thinkers and confident communicators through your innovative literacy programs, I knew this was a school community where I could make a genuine impact. As an English Teacher with five years of experience engaging Years 7-12 students with diverse learning needs, I’m excited to bring my passion for literature, evidence-based teaching strategies, and collaborative approach to your English faculty.
In my current role at Greenwood High School, I teach English across Years 8, 10, and 11, including ATAR English Literature. I’ve consistently achieved strong results, with 85% of my Year 11 students achieving B grades or higher in 2024. Beyond test scores, I’m most proud of creating a classroom culture where students feel safe to take risks with their writing and interpretations. I redesigned our Year 10 creative writing unit to incorporate contemporary Australian voices and multimodal texts, resulting in a 40% increase in student engagement as measured by class participation and assignment completion rates.
I’m particularly passionate about differentiation and supporting students with diverse needs. I’ve worked closely with our learning support team to adapt curriculum for students with learning difficulties, EALD learners, and gifted students. Last year, I mentored two student teachers through their practicum placements and contributed to our faculty’s assessment moderation processes, strengthening consistency across year levels.
Your school’s focus on integrating technology and your House system’s emphasis on student wellbeing strongly align with my teaching philosophy. I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience with inquiry-based learning, my commitment to fostering student voice, and my expertise in senior English can contribute to Riverside’s continued excellence.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to your school community.
Kind regards,
Sophie Anderson
[email protected]
0434 789 012
linkedin.com/in/sophieanderson
How to Format an English Teacher Cover Letter
Professional presentation matters in education. A well-formatted cover letter shows you understand workplace standards and can communicate effectively—essential skills for any teacher. Australian schools expect clean, professional formatting that’s easy to read.
- Length: Maximum 1 page (3–5 paragraphs). Principals and recruitment panels read dozens of applications. Respect their time with concise, focused writing.
- Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman, 10–12pt. Use professional, accessible fonts that are easy to read both on screen and in print.
- Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing with clear paragraph breaks. Good use of white space improves readability.
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides. This is standard for Australian professional documents and ensures proper printing.
- File format: Always PDF unless the school specifically requests a different format. PDFs preserve formatting across all devices and operating systems.
Name your file professionally: SophieAnderson_EnglishTeacher_CoverLetter.pdf. Avoid generic filenames like “cover_letter.pdf” or “teacherCL_final2.docx”.
What to Include in an English Teacher Cover Letter (Australia)
Every effective English Teacher cover letter follows a clear structure. Here’s how to organise yours for maximum impact:
1. Contact Details
Start with your full name, mobile number, email address, LinkedIn profile (optional), and location (city and state). You don’t need your complete street address, but schools want to know if you’re local or need to relocate.
2. Date and Employer Details
Include the current date, followed by the principal’s name (always try to find this), their title, school name, and address. Research the principal’s name on the school website—personalisation shows initiative and attention to detail.
3. Salutation
Use “Dear [Principal’s Name]” whenever possible. School websites almost always list the principal’s name. If applying to a large department and you genuinely cannot find a specific contact, “Dear Principal” or “Dear Selection Panel” is acceptable. Avoid “To Whom It May Concern”.
4. Opening Paragraph – Your Hook and Intent
Start with something specific about the school—their values, programs, recent achievements, teaching philosophy, or community involvement. State the position you’re applying for and briefly explain why you’re an excellent fit. Show you’ve researched the school and aren’t sending generic applications.
5. Middle Paragraphs – Why You’re the Best Fit
Use 1–2 paragraphs to highlight your most relevant teaching experience, achievements, and pedagogical approach. Connect your experience directly to what the school needs. For English Teacher roles, schools want to see experience teaching relevant year levels, knowledge of Australian Curriculum, strong literacy instruction skills, classroom management capabilities, differentiation and inclusive practice, assessment and reporting experience, and co-curricular involvement.
6. Closing Paragraph – Call to Action
Express enthusiasm for the role, reiterate your interest in contributing to the school community, and invite further discussion. Keep it positive and forward-looking.
7. Sign-Off
Use “Kind regards,” “Sincerely,” or “Yours sincerely,” followed by your full name and contact details.
Right vs Wrong Example
Right: “When I read about Riverside Secondary College’s commitment to developing critical thinkers and confident communicators through your innovative literacy programs, I knew this was a school community where I could make a genuine impact. As an English Teacher with five years of experience engaging Years 7-12 students with diverse learning needs, I’m excited to bring my passion for literature, evidence-based teaching strategies, and collaborative approach to your English faculty.”
Why it works: Specific school research, demonstrates understanding of the school’s values, clear experience statement, and shows genuine interest in this particular school community.
Wrong: “I am writing to apply for the English Teacher position at your school. I have a degree in English and love teaching. I am passionate about literature and believe I would be a great addition to your team.”
Why it fails: Generic, could apply to any school, no specific achievements, vague statements like “love teaching” and “passionate about literature” provide no evidence of teaching effectiveness.
Entry-Level English Teacher Cover Letter Tips
Are you a recent graduate or career changer with limited classroom experience? Don’t worry—every teacher starts somewhere. Here’s how to position yourself effectively as a beginning teacher:
- Focus on transferable skills and enthusiasm: Highlight your teaching practicums, the year levels and contexts you’ve taught, specific units you developed, and positive feedback from supervising teachers.
- Highlight course projects, volunteering or part-time work: Include tutoring experience, volunteer literacy programs, university assignments where you developed units of work, any work with young people (coaching, youth work, camps), and relevant professional learning you’ve completed.
- Show career motivation: Explain why you chose teaching and specifically English. What drives your passion for literacy education? Show genuine commitment to the profession and helping young people develop their communication skills.
Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for English Teacher
“As a recent graduate from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), I’m eager to begin my teaching career at Riverside Secondary College. During my final practicum at Westside High School, I taught Year 9 and 11 English for six weeks, developing a poetry unit that incorporated slam poetry and spoken word to engage reluctant readers. My supervising teacher noted my ‘natural rapport with students’ and ‘well-structured lessons that catered to diverse learning needs’. I’ve also tutored HSC English students for two years through University Tutoring Services, helping three students improve their results by at least one grade. I bring fresh enthusiasm, current knowledge of best-practice pedagogy from my degree, and a genuine commitment to making English accessible and exciting for all learners.”
Why it works: Highlights practicum experience with specific examples, includes relevant tutoring work, mentions positive feedback, shows teaching philosophy, and demonstrates commitment to the profession.
“I don’t have experience but I’m a quick learner. I just finished my teaching degree and I’m looking for my first teaching job. I’ve always loved English and reading, and I think I’d be good at teaching it. I’m willing to learn and work hard.”
Why it fails: Apologetic tone, no mention of practicums (which all education graduates complete), vague statements about loving English, sounds uncertain rather than ready to enter the profession.
Top Mistakes to Avoid in an English Teacher Cover Letter
- Repeating your resume word-for-word: Your cover letter should tell the story behind your teaching. Explain your teaching philosophy, describe memorable classroom moments, and show your personality—things that don’t fit on a resume.
- Not addressing the company or role directly: Generic cover letters are obvious. Research the school’s values, programs, demographics, and culture. Visit their website, read their newsletters, check their social media. Reference specific aspects of the school.
- Using filler phrases like “I’m a team player” without proof: Phrases like “passionate about teaching,” “love working with young people,” or “dedicated educator” mean nothing without specific examples. Show your teaching effectiveness through student outcomes, feedback, or specific initiatives.
- Being too formal or too casual: Education has a professional culture, but your cover letter shouldn’t sound robotic. Write in a warm, personable tone that reflects how you’d communicate with colleagues while maintaining professionalism.
- Focusing only on literature, not literacy: English teaching is about more than loving books. Schools want teachers who can develop reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills across diverse learners. Show your broader literacy focus.
- Neglecting to mention the Australian Curriculum: Reference your understanding of the Australian Curriculum: English and relevant state curricula (QCAA, NESA, VCAA, etc.). This shows you understand the framework you’ll be teaching within.
How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad
- Use keywords from the ad (but naturally): If the job description emphasises “differentiation,” “NAPLAN,” “senior English,” “diverse learners,” or “co-curricular involvement,” incorporate these terms where relevant. Many schools use screening processes that look for key competencies.
- Mirror the tone and priorities of the employer: A selective academic school will have different priorities than a comprehensive public school or alternative education setting. A school emphasising “innovation” wants to hear about creative teaching approaches; one focused on “strong academic results” wants to hear about student achievement data.
- Mention specific tools, software or experience if listed: If the ad mentions specific learning management systems (Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoolbox), assessment platforms (NAPLAN Online, PAT testing), or teaching approaches (explicit instruction, inquiry-based learning), reference your experience with these.
How to Sign Off Your English Teacher Cover Letter
- Use “Sincerely” or “Kind regards”: These are the most professional sign-offs for Australian education contexts. “Kind regards” is slightly warmer and commonly used in schools. “Yours sincerely” is more formal and traditional.
- Include full name, phone number, LinkedIn (optional): Repeat your contact details below your signature even though they appear at the top. This makes it easy for busy principals or recruitment panels to contact you immediately.
Cover Letter Signature Example
Kind regards,
Sophie Anderson
[email protected]
0434 789 012
linkedin.com/in/sophieanderson
How to Submit a Cover Letter in Australia
- Always attach as a PDF (unless instructed otherwise): PDFs preserve your formatting regardless of device or software. Only submit a Word document if the application specifically requests it.
- Label file professionally (e.g. SophieAnderson_CoverLetter.pdf): Use FirstnameLastname_CoverLetter.pdf or FirstnameLastname_EnglishTeacher_CoverLetter.pdf. Professional filenames show attention to detail—important for teachers.
- If submitting via Seek or LinkedIn, include a brief intro: Many teaching positions are advertised through education-specific portals or school websites. If applying via email, include a brief message: “Please find attached my application for the English Teacher position at Riverside Secondary College. I look forward to discussing how my experience and teaching philosophy align with your school’s values.”
Final Tips for Writing a Great English Teacher Cover Letter
- Make every sentence count – avoid repetition: You have limited space, so ensure every sentence adds value. As an English teacher, demonstrate your writing skills through clear, concise, engaging prose.
- Use confident, positive language: Write in active voice. Instead of “I was responsible for teaching,” write “I taught.” Instead of “I helped students improve,” write “I guided students to achieve” or “Students in my classes improved.”
- Proofread carefully (get a second pair of eyes if you can): Typos or grammatical errors in an English Teacher’s cover letter are particularly damaging. Read your letter aloud, use spell-check, then ask a colleague or friend to review. Fresh eyes catch errors you’ve missed.
- Match tone to employer (formal, friendly or creative): A traditional private school expects more formal language; a progressive alternative school expects more personality and creativity. Research the school culture and adjust accordingly.
More Resources for Job Seekers
Your cover letter works best alongside a strong resume and thorough preparation. To build a complete application package, explore English Teacher resume examples to see how to structure your qualifications and teaching experience effectively. Many teaching positions require detailed responses to selection criteria, so learn how to write selection criteria using the STAR method to address key competencies. You should also prepare for interviews by reviewing common interview questions guide and practising your responses to questions about classroom management, differentiation, and teaching philosophy.
Writing an English Teacher cover letter that showcases your subject knowledge, teaching effectiveness, and genuine passion for literacy education doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With clear structure, specific examples, and a solid understanding of what Australian schools value in English teachers, you can create a compelling application that positions you as the engaging, knowledgeable educator every school wants. Remember: your cover letter is your opportunity to demonstrate the communication skills, creativity, and student-focused approach that define excellent English teaching. Be authentic, be specific, and let your enthusiasm for helping young people find their voice through language shine through.
