Teachers and those training to become teachers, need a high standard of physical and mental health to enter or remain in the teaching profession. Teaching is a demanding career and teachers have to act in loco parentis for the pupils in their charge. The health, education, safety and welfare of pupils are important and are a deciding factor in assessing an individual’s fitness to teach.

Disabled teaching staff also make an important contribution to the overall school curriculum, both as effective employees and also in raising the aspirations of disabled pupils, as well as educating non disabled people about the reality of living with a disability.

offers a health surveillance programme to Universities who undertake the Initial Teacher Training course. To help them meet their obligations under:

• Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach and of Entrants to Initial Teacher Training. Circular No: 4/99 Department of Education and Employment (DfEE)
  
  
• Able to Teach: Guidance for Providers of Initial Teacher Training on Disability Discrimination and Fitness to Teach. Teacher Training Agency (April 2004)

This service is based offsite, so there are minimal administration costs.

Applicants should click the Health Declaration Questionnaire link on the left to find instructions on completing the initial teacher training health surveillance process.