There are quite a few people who are using Second Life for education purposes, including universities, library associations, mental health advocates (there's a sim that gives people a very realistic experience of what it's like to be schizophrenic), and many others.

I think it can certainly be used for what you have in mind, Sian.

Don't get discouraged there on help island. I left that island before I had mastered everything you can learn there, but there are mirror help and orientation islands that you can go back to any time you want. You just click on 'Search' at the bottom of the window, enter 'Help Island' or 'Orientation Island' into the text box, and click on the 'Search' button to the right of the text box. Then highlight 'Help Island - Public' or 'Orientation Island Public', and click on the 'Teleport' button that's down at the bottom of the window.

My understanding about The Sims is that it's more of a role playing game than a virtual reality.