Inside the Consortia, from Habia News

Habia News have been taking a look at the consortia delivering the Diploma in Hair
and Beauty Studies. They spoke to the consortium here on our doorstep in Doncaster, and asked
them about the work they have been doing so far.

Formed between Oracle Training Consultants Ltd, Armonia Training Academy, Doncaster College, Hatfield Visual Arts College, Rossington All Saints School and Danum School Technology College, the Doncaster Hair and Beauty Consortia was able to draw upon existing partnerships and networks. Oracle Training Consultants, Armonia Training Academy and Doncaster College already deliver a range of pre-16 qualifications in hair and beauty, as well as providing work experience through Trident and the STEP programme, hosting exciting fashion shows for young people in the borough in partnership with local schools, and providing much valued personal grooming courses for SEN students. Currently the consortia has 20 learners. Each learner has had an EeePC Netbook purchased for them to use in and out of the classroom to support their studies, and help them document the plan, do, review and do again learning cycle. All the learners have their own Diploma learner uniforms which have been sponsored by Labebe.

The learners attended an induction day at the beginning of the qualification, with team working and problem solving sessions at Hatfield Water Park, to promote group dynamics and integration between the students, who come from three different schools. It was an extremely positive day, with staff in attendance from some of the training providers also involved. There were also employer engagement workshops with a session make-up artist helping the learners work on their Additional and Specialist Learning (ASL).

David Irons, Assistant Head at Danum School and in charge of the 14-19 curriculum, said, “We have been really impressed so far. The students have responded positively to a different environment and have enjoyed the challenge of the new course. For our students, they don’t want to just do hair and make-up – they are ambitious and want to learn about the whole sector. The support we’ve had from our Diploma partners has been excellent and harnessing their expertise with our understanding of student needs has been the cornerstone of making it a success. We’ve also noticed added benefits. The students have taken on greater responsibility for their own learning and we have been delighted by their attitude. Their motivation is also improved when back in school.

He added, “Diplomas are not for everybody. The IAG process is extremely important and the balance between persuasive and informative has to be right. Parents need to be on board and believe in the Diploma model, and schools need to have strong links with providers to ensure two-way communication enables robust tracking of progress. Overall, we believe the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies is a win-win. A win for students in that they are embarking on a progression route that will lead to success and enrichment, and a win for our partners in that their investment of resources will ultimately benefit the whole sector with a new generation of empowered young people.” Starting this edition, Habia News will be taking a look at the consortia delivering the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies. We spoke to the consortium here on our doorstep in Doncaster, and asked them about the work they have been doing so far.

(Taken from Habia Magazine Winter P331)