In the midst of writing your personal statement for university" Five Headteachers offer tips to Sixth Formers on how to write a good personal statement

Liz Laybourn

Burgess Hill Girls’ School, West Sussex
It is called a personal statement because it is intended to be precisely that ? personal! The personal statement provides an opportunity to flag up what makes you a stand-out candidate: to express your love of learning, the work experience you have completed and roles and responsibilities you have undertaken to better yourself.
It is important that you write the statement in your own language and idiom, rather than imitating other people?s or expressing  your thoughts in a stilted, overly-formal way. It?s originality and authenticity that will make you stand out among the rest.
Chris Ramsey

Whitgift School, Croydon
Whatever people say about admissions tutors only skimming them, a great personal statement is still crucial. Start by reading the course requirements, only ever stating the truth, never making jokes and never claiming you have ?always been passionate about? something ? you can?t have been.
Don?t just say what you?ve done, but also how it has helped you. Always write about the academic work outside your school syllabus that you have either started or are looking forward to starting. And finally, read your personal statement aloud to someone else. If there are any bits that ...