Your education and qualifications are an important aspect of your CV. It can be especially important if you have had more educational experience than work experience. Where you decide to position this section on your CV will depend entirely on how important it is as a selling point. If you have had more work experience than education, then your educational achievements will probably appear below your work history. If however you are a recent graduate with excellent exam results, then this will probably appear towards the top of your CV. Your CV is about how best to sell yourself to an employer, so you can decide which aspects are more beneficial for showing what a great candidate you are.

Your education history does not need to take up much space on your CV. Unlike your work experience, where you will need to outline your job description, job title and other things, your educational achievements will just need a grade/ pass level and the subject this was obtained in. If you have carried on your education to a degree level or higher then you may wish to add extra detail on specific aspects of your course, such as the subject of your dissertation, a research project you completed or details of any industry experience/training that formed a part of your qualification.

Along with educational achievements, this section should also include any short courses, qualifications or awards you have obtained that may be relevant. You should put your educational achievements in reverse chronological order so that the most recent qualification is at the top of the list. Avoid wasting space listing all of your GCSEs, this information can be summarised in a short sentence as a way of making your CV less cluttered. You can always give more space to higher qualifications that may be more relevant to the job you are applying for.

Here is an example of what your educational history may look like:

Education History

2005-2009
University of Edinburgh
2:1 BA (Hons) English Literature

-Completed 8000 word dissertation: The impact of feminism on Nineteenth Century Literature.
-Studied a variety of literary periods including the medieval era through to contemporary fiction.
-Assisted the organisation of the drama society production of The Duchess of Malfi.

2003-2006
Joe Bloggs College of Arts, London

A-Levels in: Sociology (A),

English (A),

History (B)

AVCE ICT (C)

2001-2003
John Smith Secondary School, London

11 GCSE Grades A*-C including Maths, Science and English.

Additional Qualifications

June 09- Completed a Shorthand Course at Journalist College, Lond

Remember high school gym class? You played volleyball, ran a mile on the track, and ducked before being hit in the face during a vigorous game of dodge ball? Physical education has been part of the educational scene for nearly 200 years. It is vital that students participate in physical education to keep their mind and body in peak learning condition. Currently, the childhood obesity rate is dangerously climbing to epidemic levels. Therefore, the focus on physical education is more important then ever before.

The question is how should physical education be conducted? First, take a look at physical education history. Physical education has evolved over the years. Physical education is defined as “instruction in the development and care of the body ranging from simple calisthenics exercises to a course of study providing training in hygiene, gymnastics, and the performance and management of athletic games (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).” This definition is broad because you can learn several topics ranging from the rules of basketball to sex education. It depends on the school policies of your state educational system.

Physical education was officially recognized in the United States in the early 1800′s. Colleges and Universities began to offer physical education programs throughout the 1800′s. Finally, in 1866 California was the first to mandate physical education. Many states followed this mandate within the next 30 years. The importance of training the body as well as the mind became prevalent in the educational system.

The 20th century brought varying levels of physical education to each state. Presidents such as Eisenhower and Kennedy promoted physical education and fitness. Children took the Presidential Fitness test each year to assess their physical fitness level. This arose from the need for U.S. students to be as physical fit as their European counterparts.

Controversial issues have played an integral role in physical education history. For example, in 1972 Title IX banned sexual discrimination in schools regarding sports and academics. This allowed female athletes to actively participate in team sports other than cheerleading with the financial and emotional support of the school system.

Another controversial issue is sexual education. It has been the subject of intense debate for many decades. Each state has specific guidelines about what will be taught and whether students can opt out of the sexual education program. Some states allow students to watch a video of a child being born while other states only discuss abstinence.

The official employment of physical education programs has a 200 year history which has become home to controversial issues, social reform, and overall child well being. Physical education will continue to evolve as the needs of the student population changes, societal attitudes fluctuate, and the flow of educational funds towards physical education is maintained.