Write one page addressed to a named person. Name the post and where you saw it in the first line, then give your qualification, class levels, subjects and one classroom result, say why you suit that school, thank the reader and ask for an interview. Attach your CV and certificates.
Updated October 2026
Many teaching application letters fall short for three avoidable reasons: they are copied from foreign templates, addressed to nobody, or sent without the documents the school asked for. This guide fixes those problems and gives you four samples to adapt. If you are applying to a public school, read the Ghana Education Service section first, because GES recruits trained teachers through an online portal rather than by letter.
What must a teaching application letter contain?
Indeed sets out six steps: address it to a specific person, express your interest in the job, outline your education, highlight your work experience, describe your teaching style and values, and include a positive and optimistic closing[1].
The letter itself is a formal introduction of your skills and qualifications to a potential employer, not a second copy of your CV. The main paragraphs, often two to three, should highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description[2]. Prospero Teaching, a UK teaching recruiter, says a cover letter should be no longer than one page and should only include the most relevant information[3].
What does each block of the letter look like?
| Block | What to write | Example line |
|---|---|---|
| Your details | Name, postal or digital address, phone, email. Match the CV exactly. | [Your name], [digital address or P.O. Box], [town], [region], [phone], [email] |
| Date | Day, month, year in full. | 19 October 2026 |
| Recipient | Name and title, then school and town. YEN.com.gh places the recipient’s address below your contact details and before the date[2]; other layouts put the date first. Pick one layout and keep it consistent. | The Headmistress, [Name], [School name], [Town] |
| Salutation | Name the person. If you cannot find a name, Indeed says use Sir/Madam[1] | Dear [Mrs Surname], |
| Opening | Post, your interest and where you saw the vacancy, plus any reference number. | I wish to apply for the post of Primary 4 class teacher advertised on your noticeboard, quoting the reference shown in the advert. |
| Body | Qualification, class levels, subjects, one measurable result, fit with the school. | I hold a Bachelor of Education and teach Mathematics and Science at upper primary. |
| Closing | Thanks plus an interview request. | Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome an interview at your convenience. |
| Enclosures | List what is attached. | Enclosures: curriculum vitae, degree certificate, teaching licence, two references. |
One correction matters for Ghana. Some widely shared templates ask for a state and zip code, which does not exist here. Use your digital address or post office box, the town and the region instead. YEN.com.gh’s own Ghanaian samples use P.O. Box addresses with no state or zip code[2].
How do you write yours in order?
- Find a name. Call the school, check the advert, or ask at the office. It is standard practice to address the letter to a specific person.
- Name the post in line one. Add where you saw it: district education office noticeboard, school gate, newspaper, WhatsApp group or job board.
- Give your qualification and licence. State your degree or diploma, the awarding institution and your National Teaching Council licence status if you hold one.
- Prove you can teach. One result beats three adjectives: a pass rate, a class size, a club you started, a scheme of work you built.
- Say why that school. Mention its curriculum, its results, its catchment or its values.
- Close warmly. Thank the reader and ask for an interview.
Who should you address it to in Ghana?
| Employer | Who to address | What to emphasise | Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public basic or senior high school (Ghana Education Service) | No letter for the main GES intake: apply on the GES online recruitment portal when a window opens. Write to the District Director of Education only if a district office or advert asks for a letter. | NTC licence, completed national service, willingness to accept a posting, including to a deprived district | April 2026 GES portal: academic certificates, National Service certificate, NTC licence, Ghana Card, passport photograph[4] |
| Private school | The proprietor, headteacher or school administrator | Subjects, discipline, parent communication, results | CV, certificates, two referees |
| International school | The Head of School or Head of Primary | Curriculum experience, assessment, English fluency | CV, certificates, transcripts, police report if requested |
| Junior or senior high school subject post | The headmaster or headmistress | Subject depth, exam results, lab or ICT skills | CV, certificates, subject transcript |
Applying to a public school through GES
GES ran its 2026 recruitment of trained teachers online only, from 10 to 17 April 2026, through its recruitment portal[5]. The notice, signed by GES Head of Public Relations Daniel Fenyi, required applicants to be in good standing with the National Teaching Council with a valid teaching licence, to have completed national service and to be willing to accept postings to deprived districts. Applicants filled in a form and uploaded academic certificates, a National Service certificate, the NTC licence, a Ghana Card and a passport photograph[4]. Eligibility, dates and the document list change with each recruitment cycle (status as of October 2026), so check official GES notices before the next window and ignore anyone offering a paid shortcut.
The National Teaching Council licenses teachers under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), through the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination, and runs a licensed teacher verification tool on its teacher portal[6]. Put your licence number in any letter you send. Private and international schools set their own requirements, so confirm their document list before you print anything.
Full sample: letter to a district education office
Use this only when a district office, posting instruction or advert asks for a written letter; the main GES intake runs through the online portal. Adapt every bracket before you send it.
[Your name] / [Digital address or P.O. Box, town, region] / [Phone] / [Email]
[Date]
The District Director of Education
[District] Education Directorate
[Town, Region]
Dear Sir/Madam,
APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF TEACHER, [SCHOOL NAME]
I wish to apply for the teaching vacancy at [school name] advertised at your directorate on [date], reference [number]. I hold a [Bachelor of Education in subject] from [institution] and completed national service at [school], where I taught [subject] to [class levels].
In that year I taught [number] pupils, prepared schemes of work for [term], and improved [subject] class results by running weekly remedial sessions. I am comfortable with the standards-based curriculum and with continuous assessment records.
I am willing to accept a posting within the district. My National Teaching Council licence number is [licence number]. Thank you for considering my application. I would be glad to attend an interview.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature and name]
Enclosures: curriculum vitae, certificates, transcript, national service certificate.
Full sample: private or international school
[Your details and date]
The Headmistress, [Name]
[School], [Town]
Dear [Name],
APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF [SUBJECT] TEACHER
I am applying for the [subject] teacher post listed on your school website on [date]. I hold a Bachelor of Education and have taught [subject] for [number] years at [school], covering [class levels] and preparing candidates for [examination].
Last academic year [number] of my [number] candidates passed [subject] at grade [x] or better, and I introduced a reading club that met every Friday. Your school’s focus on [curriculum or value] matches how I plan lessons, with clear objectives, group work and weekly feedback to parents.
Thank you for your time. I would welcome the chance to teach a demonstration lesson.
Yours sincerely, [Name]
Full sample: primary school class teacher
[Your details and date]
The Headteacher, [Name], [School], [Town]
Dear [Name],
APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF PRIMARY [X] CLASS TEACHER
I wish to apply for the Primary [x] class teacher vacancy announced at your school on [date]. I hold a [Diploma or Bachelor of Education, Primary Education] from [institution] and have taught Primary [x] to [y] at [school] for [number] years.
I teach literacy through phonics and guided reading, keep a daily records book, and meet parents each half term. In my last class of [number] pupils, [number] moved from non-reader to independent reader within two terms.
Thank you for considering me. I am available for an interview and a classroom observation.
Yours sincerely, [Name]
How do you write it with no teaching experience?
Replace the experience paragraph with proof, not apology: teaching practice, national service, private tuition, Sunday school or vacation classes, and the subject depth from your degree.
[Your details and date]
Dear [Name],
APPLICATION FOR A [SUBJECT] TEACHING POST
I am applying for the [post] advertised on [where] on [date]. I completed my [degree or diploma] at [institution] this year and carried out teaching practice at [school], where I taught [subject] to [class levels] for [number] weeks under [mentor].
During that placement I planned and delivered [number] lessons, marked class exercises weekly, and ran free evening tuition for [number] pupils preparing for [examination]. I also coached the debate team. I learn quickly, accept feedback and will follow the school’s scheme of work closely.
Thank you for reading my application. I would be grateful for an interview.
Yours sincerely, [Name]
What changes between applicant types?
| Applicant type | Opening line focus | Evidence to use instead of experience | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary class teacher | Exact class level and school | Phonics, records book, parent meetings | Listing subjects without class management |
| Subject teacher, JHS or SHS | Subject and examination level | Transcript grades, past questions, lab or ICT work | Writing a general letter with no subject detail |
| Private school applicant | Post plus the school’s curriculum | Results, clubs, parent communication | Ignoring the school’s own values |
| Fresher or no experience | Qualification year and placement | Teaching practice, national service, tuition, volunteering | Apologising for inexperience |
| Undergraduate or vacation applicant | Availability dates and level | Course modules, tutoring, invigilation help | Hiding that you are still studying |
How should you send it by email?
Schools often give only an email address. Keep it simple: subject line “Application for [post] – [your name] – [reference]”, a three-sentence covering note in the email body, and the full letter plus CV attached as PDF.
Name files so a busy head can find them, for example [YourName]-ApplicationLetter.pdf and [YourName]-CV.pdf. Send one email with all attachments, keep the files small enough to open on a phone, and keep the sent copy. If you hand deliver, take two copies and ask the office to stamp yours.
What should you attach?
- Curriculum vitae, one or two pages, with the same contact details as the letter.
- Degree, diploma or certificate copies, plus transcript where asked.
- Teaching licence details if you are licensed by the National Teaching Council.
- National service certificate, if you have completed service.
- Two referees with phone numbers, usually a former head or mentor.
- Any document named in the advert, exactly as named.
Confirm the list with the school before you spend money on photocopies and binding; private schools and district offices do not always ask for the same papers.
What gets teaching applications rejected?
- No name in the salutation when the name was easy to find.
- A template letter that never mentions the school or the post.
- More than one page, against the one-page limit a teaching recruiter recommends.
- Foreign address formats with a state and zip code.
- Spelling errors in the school’s name or the subject.
- No phone number, or a number that is switched off.
- Missing attachments or documents the advert named.
Try this today
Work through this pre-send check before you print or press send:
- One page only, in a plain, readable font.
- A real name in the salutation, spelled correctly, or Sir/Madam as the documented fallback.
- The exact post title and reference in the first sentence.
- One measurable classroom result in the body.
- A thank-you and an interview request in the closing.
- Contact details identical to your CV.
- Attachments named, listed and actually attached.
- Read aloud once for spelling and grammar.
Then confirm the school’s correct name and contact details before sending. Browse education and training listings on WebsitesGH for schools and training providers, and the government and public sector directory for education offices.
Where this guidance comes from
Indeed’s guide, updated 16 June 2026 and written by the Indeed Editorial Team, supplies the six-step structure[1]. YEN.com.gh, published 5 Apr 2023 and updated 3 May 2025, supplies the formatting sequence[2]. Prospero Teaching, a UK teaching recruiter, supplies the one-page limit[3]. The public-school requirements come from Graphic Online and Starr FM reports of the April 2026 GES recruitment notice[4,5], and the licensing basis from the National Teaching Council[6].
What next?
Pick one school, one post and one hour. Edit the sample that matches your case, run the checklist, attach your documents and send it. Then diarise a polite follow-up call for ten working days later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write an application letter to be employed as a teacher?
Follow six steps: address it to a specific person, express your interest in the job, outline your education, highlight your work experience, describe your teaching style and values, and close positively. Keep it to one page, name the post and where you saw it in the first line, then attach your CV, certificates and licence details. Use the Ghana address layout, not a state and zip code. For the main GES intake of trained teachers, you apply on the GES online portal instead of sending a letter.
How do I write an application for a primary school teaching job?
Name the exact class level in the opening sentence, for example Primary 4 class teacher, and say where you saw the vacancy. Then give your primary education qualification, the class levels you have taught, how you teach reading and numeracy, and one result such as pupils moving to independent reading. Close with thanks and an interview request, and list your enclosures.
What is the correct length for a teaching application letter?
One page. Prospero Teaching says a cover letter should be no longer than one page and should only include the most relevant information. In practice that is three or four short paragraphs: the opening naming the post, two body paragraphs on qualifications and classroom evidence, and a closing with thanks and an interview request. Anything longer usually repeats the CV.
Should the letter be handwritten or typed for a Ghanaian school?
Type it. A typed letter is easier to read, easier to email and easier to attach to a file. Print on plain white paper, sign it by hand, and send a PDF when applying by email. Only write by hand if the advert specifically asks for a handwritten application.
What is the difference between an application letter and a CV?
The application letter is a formal introduction of your skills, experience and qualifications that shows you fit one specific role, and it is usually one page. The CV is the full record: education, employment dates, subjects, class levels, training and referees. The letter argues; the CV evidences. Send both, with the same name, phone number and email on each document.
How do I follow up after sending a teaching application?
Wait about ten working days, then call the school office or send a short email referring to your letter, the post and the date you applied. Ask politely whether a shortlist has been drawn. One follow-up is professional; weekly calls are not. If there is no reply after a second attempt, keep the letter and apply elsewhere with the details updated.
Can I send the same letter to a public and a private school?
No. Change the recipient, the opening line and the emphasis. A district office application should stress licence status, curriculum knowledge and willingness to accept a posting. A private or international school application should stress subjects, examination results, clubs and parent communication. The spine of the letter stays the same, but a visibly recycled letter is one of the quickest routes to rejection.
Sources
- Indeed India – How To Write An Application For A Teaching Job: With Examples (updated 16 Jun 2026)
- Yen – How to write an application for employment as a teacher in Ghana (3 May 2025)
- Prospero Teaching – How to Write a Teacher Job Cover Letter (no date shown; accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- Starr FM – GES opens portal for recruitment of graduate teachers for 2026 (10 Apr 2026)
- Graphic Online – GES announces teacher vacancies, sets April deadline (11 Apr 2026)
- National Teaching Council of Ghana (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
