How well do you have to be to qualify as a teacher?
 

I've always wanted to be a teacher (Art), and I know to get on the PGCE course people have to pass a medical. I've been ill pretty much all the time for the past 7 years, sectioned several times, but I really want to get my life back on track, and if everything went ok I'd be doing my teaching qualification in about 8 years. I just need advice if I'm going to be turned down just because of my bipolar diagnosis, or whether if I continually get better and stronger and stable I'll be allowed to teach. I know you have to disclose if you have a mental illness if you are going to work with children. Please help...I need to know if I should give up now?

I'd havethought so longas you're stable and you will be of no harm to yourself or others whilst you are working you should be fine but just remember that it is a very stressful job so if stress makes you orse then they would have to discuss that with you. But no, they're not supposed to, unless there is a very good reason for it, not allow you to get on a course because of any disability/ mental health issue; it really depends how bad you are and stuff. They may want to see psych reports and stuff but it's quite some way off yet anyway. Maybe you could talk to a careers advisor or someone?

^^
thanks very much for the response, whilst once I used the internet in self-destructive ways, now I'm using it to inspire me towards a future I could have.

Cool, that sounds really positive. Hopefully it'll all work out for you

My partner is bipolar, and is currently doing his PGCE to become a high school teacher. He's finding it stressful but enjoyable too. He declared it on the forms, and basically at the end of the course they assess you and judge whether you'll cope as a teacher. If you think you're ready though, then talk to someone from a local uni and discuss it. It can't hurt to ask!

That's great news. I hope everything goes really well for him. I spoke with my social worker today and she said that if you have a passion for something, something like bipolar can be a blessing (aswell as a disability). I'd like to thank people for their responses. It helps me to think that I could actually do something with my life.