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Freeman College is operated by Ruskin Mill Trust an independent educational charity which, for over 30 years, has provided specialist practical skills and therapeutic education (PSTE) to young people who have a range of complex learning, mental health, and behavioural needs. Freeman college offers day and residential placements for young people aged 16 – 25 with an Education Health & Care plan (EHCP). It’s a full-time curriculum (30 hours per week Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm) from 36 to 52 weeks per year, with a recommended programme length of 3 years. Additional targeted support can be provided by the college, and this is in relation to the individuals need.

The college curriculum works with hands-on practical learning and is particularly useful for those who have struggled to access mainstream or alternative education settings in the past, for a variety of reasons. Small, creative learning groups allow for the positive role modelling of skills, such as executive functioning. The college works with a broad range of students who have varying needs and abilities, and therefore those also have a broad range of destinations from further and higher education, volunteering, paid employment, and social care pathways including supported or independent living. The PSTE curriculum prepares young people for adulthood through key areas of their development:

Therapeutic art & craft skills

Land & Environment skills

Catering & Hospitality

Independent Living Skills

Personal Development Skills

Work & Employability skills

Functional Skills Maths & English (up to GCSE)

Alongside the main college environment within Sheffield city centre, the college also delivers its curriculum from a 9-acre, rural site on the outskirts of the North Peak, where students grow nurture their own produce, work with animals, and take part in therapeutic craft sessions. Active sessions are fundamental to developing positive eating and sleeping patterns. Students also have access to internal work experience through social enterprise which takes place from Fusion Café (onsite). The café is open to the public 4 days per week and uses produce grown by students during Land & Horticulture sessions. Popular also is the Veg Box scheme which runs from the Market Garden site and serves the local community.

Some students at Freeman College are working at pre-entry levels. Others undertake a broad range of qualifications across subject areas which go up to Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) plus GCSE Maths & English. The college offers in-house therapies such as SaLT, OT, and Counselling. Students have access to Independent living & work sessions, managing health & wellbeing, travel training, and work experience while attending Freeman College. The college is registered and regulated by Ofsted and the residential care homes by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated (respectively): GOOD. 

For residential students, their homes are out in community (not on the college site) and comprise of private bedrooms alongside shared communal spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms. Student houses are shared (typically up to 3 young people) and some solo properties are also available. Every household has one sleep-in member of staff provided as standard plus any additional (targeted) level of support required.  With our residential houses being separate to our college sites, students usually commute to college on foot or via public transport (supported by our support staff depending on the needs of the individual). 

Through creating items of service that the young person can be proud of within a nurturing environment, we are able to reimagine the potential within us all.