SubjectsHair and Beauty
Our Curriculum Intent
The Academy vision, ‘Where every member of our extended family realise their God-given potential’ inspired by John 10:10 and ‘Jesus said ‘I have come so you may have life in all its fullness’ is routed at the heart of everything we do. Hair and Beauty is a subject that aims to help students understand that it is a vibrant, dynamic and fast-paced industry, offering fantastic employment and training opportunities. It covers many topics that address the academy’s vision as it develops students understanding of the world round them.
At All Saints’ Academy, the Hair and Beauty department currently delivers the Level 1 and Level 2 VTCT Award in Hairdressing and the Beauty Industry. This qualification is designed to offer students the opportunity to experience a broad range of topic areas within the Hair and Beauty sector, in a vocational context. Throughout Key Stage 4, students are introduced to a variety of issues and debates and are equipped, via various means, to not only report and discuss them but practically apply their knowledge to a wealth of Hair and Beauty scenarios. The department is committed to developing each student holistically and the vocational nature of each qualification ensures both adaptability and accessibility for all.
The aim of the Key Stage 4 curriculum for Hair and Beauty is to teach and encourage students to ask questions about the Hair and Beauty industry. Students need to be analytical and critical of the research that they cover in their specifications. The study of Hair and Beauty allows students insight into their preferred sector supporting progression to further or higher education and, ultimately, employment. The course’s concepts allow students to construct arguments and support them in becoming analytical thinkers who can question human motivation and society with skill and confidence.
Implementation
Hair and Beauty is an optional subject and as a result, students of all abilities will be in the same class. The department follows the Academy’s structure of cycles, although there are some deviations with regard to assessment windows given the length of time required to complete the assignments. With this in mind, Cycle 5 in Hair and Beauty is not used to review previously taught content but for assignment completion or teaching of new course content.
The department is committed to the Academy’s teaching and learning principles and regularly attends the teaching and learning briefings, as well as contributing to various topics within these briefings throughout the academic year. Within the lessons, students are taught using a variety of means including the use of lesson PowerPoints, group discussions, independent study and research, case study applications and assessments, both internally and externally moderated.
Students are also provided the opportunity to increase their cultural capital via the use of extra-curricular activities. Students are provided with the opportunity to deliver hair and beauty treatments to service users in an elderly residential care allowing them to practically apply the skills taught within the classroom. A variety of speakers are also used to enrich the students’ knowledge of careers within the industry and these sessions enable students to answer many of their questions in this regard. The international cosmetic company LUSH attend the Academy to provide workshops for the students, enabling them to get more practical experience in a different area of the industry.
Impact
During all years, students are monitored regularly and student work and achievement are assessed, reviewed and tracked at least twice a cycle. Students are then provided with the opportunity to amend, adapt or resubmit work in accordance with the VTCT policy for assessment as well as the Academy’s assessment policy. Assessment provides students with the opportunity to identify areas of improvement by themselves and encourages self-reflective and motivated learners. Academic results within the department are strong, with positive progress 8 being the norm.
Outside of traditional progress measures, the department is successful in its impact on the chosen careers of students. Students at Key Stage 4 are enthusiastic about the subject and many wish to continue their learning at Key Stage 5 or go into employment. Students are empowered to achieve these goals due to their successful acquisition of key skills throughout the Hair and Beauty curriculum.