FORMER special needs student Rachel Reed - who once struggled to cope at school - is heading back to the classroom as a teacher.

The 23-year-old, who spent four years at Penwithen Special School in Dorchester as a youngster, has just scooped a place at Goldsmiths College in London to train as an art teacher.

Rachel already has a degree in textile design under her belt and this September she is to start the one-year teacher-training course.

But high-flier Rachel has had to work harder than most for her achievements. At the age of six she was taken out of mainstream education because she couldn't cope in class and spent the next four years at Penwithen.

She said: "I had emotional problems - I think I was a bit hyper, I had too much nervous energy and I found it difficult to fit in at school."

Her mum Diane recalls: "It had to be done, but it was tough. Even now there is a real stigma about special schools. Rachel had been one of the brightest kids in her class at primary school - but she was different and she just couldn't cope."

As a youngster at Penwithen, Rachel found it difficult to communicate because she had developed a pronounced stammer. But she demonstarted a great talent for art.

She said: "At one time that was my main form of communication - but I have worked hard and these days I find it a lot easier to talk to people."

At 11 years old Rachel returned to the mainstream - to Wey Valley School. She struggled through, but came out on top with an impressive string of eight GCSEs. Then she studied for three A levels and an art and design foundation course at Weymouth College, and last year graduated from the Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton.

Rachel says she's determined to use her own experiences of knowing what it is to struggle at school to help other youngsters when she's a teacher.

She said: "I think I know what kids who find school difficult want to hear.

"The people who have really helped me learn are those who told me I can do it - if I work at it. I think it will be important to sit and listen to pupils and help them find ways to do the things they find difficult."

While she is waiting to take up her place at Goldsmiths Rachel is helping out at her old school, Penwithen. She said: "It was weird to go back, but it is very rewarding to help out there. And I'm looking forward to going to start my training in London - I'm treating it as a big adventure."