The Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies

The Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies was delivered successfully by Oracle and partners for the past two years. The government is reviewing all qualifications and the life span of this options looks set to be a short one!

The Diplomas was designed to offer a mix of academic learning with a vocational twist enabling ‘preparation for work qualifications’ to be born. The first five Diplomas have had their first recruits enrol during September 2008 and then potential pupils with an interest in Hairdressing and Beauty from Schools within the pilot consortiums enrolled in September 2009. Oracle was one of the partner organisations in the Doncaster Consortium and we were actively involved in its development and delivery.

The future of such a qualification has been in debate for the last couple of years, with the government reviewing these diplomas and other qualifications that encourage young people to stay in school while they develop key employability skills which support the relevant English Maths and ICT needed for the future employment needs of the country.

The diploma was   split into three different levels; Foundation, Higher and Advanced and split into three different parts;

• The Principal learning;  developing the knowledge, understanding of the skills needed within the Hair and Beauty Industry;
• The Additional or Specialist learning;  the option to tailor the programme according to the individuals own interest or future career pathway,  including some technical module from Hair and Beauty or another vocation, or even the option of including a GCSE in the mix; 
• Finally the Generic learning; was the essential English, Maths and ICTskills which will be embedded throughout the diploma.

The diploma was very different from the  NVQ as it is a ‘work ready’ qualification rather than a ‘job ready’ qualification, this resulted the diploma graduates not being ‘competent’ to do the job as they were in the NVQ. The Diploma concentrated more on the 10 employability skills that where identified by Hair and Beauty Employers at the beginning of its development. These included; willingness to learn, teamwork, personal and professional ethics, flexible working, customer care, positive attitude, self management, creativity, communication skills and leadership. Many of those who completed the programme then progressed onto an Apprenticeship programme or went on to sixth form or college.

To gain access to a diploma the individuals needed to have a level of academic ability which exceeds the equivalent levels in the NVQ, for example, a learner embarking on a Higher Diploma would have to be an A* to C grade learner as opposed to a level 2 NVQ learner needing D to G grades for entry onto an Apprenticeship.

More information

For more information about the Diplomas follow the HABIA link:
www.habia.org/diploma/

View the HABIA video for The Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSrbmQnqMUQ&feature=player_embedded#! (You Tube version)
www.diplomainhairandbeautystudies.co.uk