I'm 16 and started gliding 2 years ago with the 'work' experience as school. I was hooked straight away, although it can be a bit expensive sometimes for a broke student like me. I think it does teach a lot about the weather (since if u dont do up u go down) and gives experience in some of the more basic parts of flying. If i couldnt glide, i couldnt fly due to the everlasting lack of funds, so it really has been great.
Where do u get to fly for £4 though? I pay £70 membership every year, and about £7 to £8 per flight (aerotow), and being a student, I get the flights half price.