Start Date
- September 2025, Full Time
Summary
The course is a starting point for those who are interested in training to be a Barber and/or hairdresser and introduces technical skills and underpinning knowledge including:
- Principles and practices of hairdressing and barbering services
- Health & Safety in the hair salon
- Client Consultation
- Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp
- The art of Dressing hair
- Promoting Products And Services
- The Art Of Colouring Hair
- Cut women's hair using basic techniques
- Cut Men's hair using basic barbering techniques
- Cut Men's' facial hair to shape using basic techniques
Our training salon, Solutions, is run as a fully functioning commercial salon offering a full range of professional consultations and treatments. You will have weekly opportunities to gain first-hand experience of working in the salon using top brands such as WELLA and GHD. All of our tutors are highly qualified with excellent industry experience and all work hard to ensure you benefit from this wealth of knowledge.
You will have opportunities to participate in College events such as fashion shows, the Royal Norfolk Show, hair and beauty shows and other off-site activities to build practical experience. We regularly participate in regional and national competitions and last year had a student placed in the WELLA Xposure regional heats. There are additional opportunities to visit Salon International where the latest fashions, styles and trends from the cosmetics industry are exclusively showcased.
"The quality of teaching, learning and assessment in hairdressing and beauty therapy is good and reflects the good outcomes for learners. Teachers plan lessons well and have good vocational knowledge and experience. This helps learners develop their skills to appropriate commercial standards. Learners gain very good employability and commercial skills" - Ofsted 2013
Why our college?
Industry standard facilities
At our college you will have access to industry-standard facilities and get to use top of the range equipment. On our campus you’ll find media suites, TV studios, design labs, workshops, hair & beauty salons, working kitchens and a live theatre.
Gain real experiences of work
All of our courses will provide you with outstanding experiences of work and prepare you for your future career. You will work with real employers and customers and build connections.
A unique student experience
This is what really sets us apart. At our college you will experience the freedom to be yourself. Being part of an active Students’ Union, having opportunities to travel and enjoying live entertainment are just a few of the amazing opportunities available to you.
Entry Requirements
Achieve 4 GCSE's at grade 3 or above, including English Language, Maths and, ideally, one Science subject.
Assessment
The course is assessed via an external practical and a theoretical assessment which will draw knowledge from the mandatory content of the qualification. the practical exam could be up to 6 hours in length with the theoretical exam content using short and extended answer questions. Please note that personal appearance is an extremely important part of this course as we are preparing students for a very demanding industry.
Progression
Students that have successfully completed the course may progress onto Level 3 Barbering. Alternatively they could find an Apprenticeship.
Future options at City College Norwich also include level 4 qualifications in Advanced Techniques and Management in Hair and Beauty Therapy or Media Make-up.
Career Progression
The Hair and Beauty industry is a vibrant, dynamic and creative sector offering fantastic employment and training opportunities. This sector alone employs nearly a quarter of a million people and is worth over £6 billion to the UK economy.
There are a wide variety of jobs for qualified hairdressers, including salon and spa work both in the UK and abroad. Hairdressers also work in hotels, on cruise liners, in hospitals and health clubs. With further experience, they can also become salon owners or follow careers in hair design for photography and fashion, teaching and training and work for manufacturers of hairdressing products as a technical advisor. Students could also look at becoming self-employed.
For further information check the National Careers Service wesbite for- Hairdresser job profile, Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA)
Fees
For UK students aged under 19 years old on the 31st August prior to the start of your course, your tuition fees are free.
There will be costs for equipment, uniform and trips. Uniform and kits tbc.
Please check our Finance pages for fee information and any financial help that may be available.
