Education 2026 personal statement guide

Admissions tutors will want to know what it is that interests you about studying education at degree level, what you hope to gain from it, and where you hope it might take you. Sprinkle in some relevant experience and something about you as a person, and you’ll have the perfect route to a 10/10 statement. 

General advice about writing your personal statement

What do admissions staff at universities and colleges want to see?

Guidance and examples you can use

Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?

This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.

Examples:

• Explain why you want to study education – include insights like why you want to explore what education means, how it’s used around the world, and the different forms education can take.
• Reflect on topical issues such as how education is portrayed in the media, and reference recent news stories you’ve seen or articles you’ve read that expand on this – whether it’s to do with education and social change, teacher retention, or teaching children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• If you know where your interests lie beyond your degree, then mention those too – for example a career in curriculum development, education management, further research, or higher education teaching.

Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.

Examples:

• Write about subjects you’ve studied and reflect on how they were taught. For example, if you studied history, how is the way you were taught to analyse sources and question whose viewpoint a text is being told from potentially useful in wider society?
• Describe what skills you’ve picked up from other studies, such as research methods in humanities or sciences, written and communication skills in English, or analytical skills in law or economics.
• Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest?

Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.

Examples:

• If you haven’t already, try and get some experience observing in a classroom or other educational setting, and reflect on what you see. Can you write about a particular teaching method, such as phonics, and how you feel it did or didn’t help pupils engage with the topic?
• Mention any other relevant work experience you have, whether that’s spending a few weeks teaching yourself or tutoring young people locally, and what you’ve learned about how children learn, or educational techniques you feel are effective.
• Mention any personal accomplishments or extracurricular activities that show your broader interests and skillset, whether that’s a drama or book club, learning a musical instrument or picking up sports skills.
• Expand on any relevant skills or qualities you've demonstrated in a part-time job, such as good communication skills, empathy, and organisation.

How to set yourself apart

The key to setting yourself apart in your application is to remember how important the personal bit is to your personal statement. What makes you, you?

Many courses look at education from a global perspective so, if you can, show you’ve travelled to other countries or taken an interest in education outside of the UK. Maybe you’re interested in the emphasis on play in the early years in Scandinavian countries, or you’ve been to visit a Steiner Waldorf school in the UK to see how they teach in comparison to schools following the national curriculum.

Reflect on things you’ve read in Schools Week, or the education section of The Times, The Guardian, or The Independent, or books like Why Don’t Students Like School? or Creative Schools by Sir Ken Robinson.

It’s even better if you can relate what you’ve written back to something you’ve learned in your English, maths or psychology studies, heard on TED Talks such as How every child can thrive by five, or read on the BBC Bitesize website.

Some more tips to consider

1. Research the course: Why do you want to study education, what specific aspects of the course interest you, how does it relate to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply? 
2. Examples of your relevant skills: Can you describe situations where you’ve demonstrated relevant skills like planning, good time management, communication, research skills, and strong motivation?
3. Make your work experience count: Highlight any experience you’ve had in a school or education setting, alongside any other experience you’ve had working with or observing children, such as summer camps, sports coaching or working as a lifeguard. Make sure you spell out why it’s relevant and what you personally gained from it.
4. Don't forget the basics: The coherence, spelling, grammar, and punctuation of your statement will all be important.