Education at Glasshouse College
Through craft and land-based activities, pupils develop resilience, responsibility, and a strong sense of community. The use of natural materials and outdoor learning environments supports pupils’ physical and emotional well-being, with drama and art further enriching this holistic approach, helping students build confidence, communication skills, and self-awareness.
The curriculum
Students at Glasshouse College have individual learning plans that are developed out of their Education, Health and Care Plans as well as their individual needs and interests. Students can engage in a wide range of practical craft and land activities, and through the Practical Skills Therapeutic Education method, develop their social and communication skills, work skills, and self-confidence.
Building on the work ethic of the glass factory, students can deepen their work skills through a range of social enterprises and work experience opportunities on and off site, including working with glass artists, serving in the café, or assisting in the Heritage Centre.
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
Careers Lead: Vanessa Wade, Careers and Employability Lead
Contact: Email vanessa.wade@ghc.rmt.org
Ruskin Mill Trust’s vision is that each student is on a journey towards ‘self-generated conscious action.’ Drawing on the visions and values of the Trust, Glasshouse College understands careers in its widest sense – how individuals can make a meaningful contribution to society based on their unique talents, abilities and aspirations. This is the guiding principle that informs our approach to CEIAG.
Learners at Glasshouse College complete meaningful work, with skills for adult life and preparation for adulthood built into the PSTE curriculum. Students experience an environment reflecting the world of work, where they learn to work safely with tools and in different weather conditions, developing transferable skills in preparation for their next steps beyond college. Preparing for adulthood outcomes including work readiness, community inclusion and managing health and wellbeing, are also achieved through topics integrated into sessions such as healthy eating, healthy relationships and managing emotions.
Our CEIAG curriculum has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice:
1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each student
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experience of work places
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance
It aims to ensure that our students, where appropriate, are able to access the independent information and guidance they need to help them choose pathways that are right for them, and to be able to manage their life choices beyond college. Our careers programme includes: employer engagement activities and experiences, social enterprise sessions, internal and external work experience, and independent advice and guidance alongside a bespoke study programme implemented by a student’s Education, Health and Care Manager.
Students are able to engage in external work placements within the timetable, pursuing their interests in line with their aspirations. Sessions build towards a student completing an outward facing programme within their transition year, to best prepare for them for the next stage in their adulthood.
Outdoor Learning
Glasshouse College campus is adjacent to the Stourbridge canal and in addition to the craft workshops on the site, students can work on the narrowboat, travelling along the canal and also contributing to maintaining the moorings, keeping the canal clear of litter and maintaining the boat. Glasshouse also benefits from the Ruskin Glass Centre which is a community resource and includes a café and a range of independent craft workshops including cake baking, stained glass, and gifts. Students participate in work experience alongside the external employers, developing retail skills and customer service.
The site also includes the Furnace Theatre which is a state of the art theatre, and welcomes touring theatre groups. The touring groups offer workshops to students which then informs the college drama programme.
Valehead Farm is a 46 acre site with a working farm and woodlands near Kinver. Students participate in biodynamic farming and work with the chickens goats and cows on the site, helping to care for them. In addition to the agricultural and land activities, there is a weaving and felting workshop, and a greenwood work shop at Valehead farm.
Glasshouse College also has access to Greenwich Woodlands which they rent and manage, working with students on the Woodland Restoration project. The Iron Age Forge is located at the woodlands.
Fundamental British Values
At Ruskin Mill Trust colleges, we actively promote positive, inclusive values. These include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. We believe British values are those values expected of anyone living in Britain, regardless of their nationality, culture or religious belief.
Our ethos, curriculum and purpose reflects these values. We place great emphasis on building positive relationships in college, amongst the students themselves and between staff and students. We strongly believe students should not merely be taught such values but that they are embedded into school life.
- We value inclusive learning and living activities that integrate practical activity, thinking and our emotions.
- We value mutual respect and we strive to understand all people’s differences and uniqueness.
- We value the capacity for re-imagination present in all people, towards positive change and development.
- We value openness, goodwill, tolerance and treating individuals with dignity and respect.
- We strive to support our students to develop into confident, happy, successful young adults who have empathy towards and an understanding of those less fortunate than themselves.
The Fundamental British Values Policy reflects how our schools work to promote positive values through the ethos and life of the college, for example through a rich and deep curriculum (Practical Skills Therapeutic Education), and through social, moral, cultural and spiritual development.