Highland school opens hairdressing salon

Eleven S3 and S4 pupils have already signed up for the new two year course which will be delivered by lecturers from Inverness College in the new facility which has all the equipment, materials and appearance of a working salon.

Headteacher of Alness Academy, Ken MacIver said: "I am delighted at the opening of the Hair Salon here at Alness Academy. This is the culmination of close liaison between Alness Academy, Inverness College and the Highland Council Determined to Succeed team. It is another good example of how partnership with local colleges is improving access to vocational training in the Easter Ross area.

"The Hair Salon is a first class facility and I am sure that it will be of real benefit to young people and others looking to access vocational training in Easter Ross".

During their first year students will be taught personal presentation, enhancing working relationships, shampooing techniques and beauty basics. On completion of their SVQ level 1 and NC unit in Personal Presentation, they will have the opportunity to continue developing their new skills at Inverness College or start work as a junior in a hair salon.

Wendy Rennie from Inverness College is teaching the students in the new Alness Academy salon. She said: "This is a great opportunity for students still in school to start pursuing a career in hairdressing. All the students are very keen to learn and the facilities here are just as good as in a real working salon."

The salon has been developed in partnership with The Highland Council and Inverness College, as part of Determined To Succeed, the Scottish Executive’s initiative which has provided funding to local authorities to develop vocational learning opportunities on the curriculum to all pupils over the age of 14 and to embed enterprise in all aspects of education for young people from Primary 1 – Secondary 6.

Moira Forsyth, The Highland Council’s Business Development Officer who is responsible for vocational developments in the Determined To Succeed team, said: "Providing a range of vocational opportunities for school pupils doesn’t just help them to decide about their future career, important though that is. They learn communication and social skills, become familiar with the world of work, and are much better prepared for whatever job they eventually do in the future."