Guided campus tour
Get a glimpse into the facilities you will be using as a hairdressing and barbering student at West Notts College.
What our students say
Ruby discusses her passion for barbering and how the college is helping her develop her skills. She also talks about particularly enjoying her work placement and shares her aspirations for her next steps after college.
Our Learning Companies: College Cuts
Learn about College Cuts – a barbering learning company designed to build our students skills and experience within the barbering industry. Students will learn key business skills and improve their confidence, working with real paying clients which will prepare them for a career in barbering.
Meet the teachers
Get to know to know a bit more about your teachers before you join us.
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Kit list
Find out what equipment and resources you'll need before you join as a West Notts student.
Download kit list
Gallery
Barbering students staged a charity event to support mental health charity Supported Muted, giving fellow students, staff and family a quick trim in return for a donation.
Hairdressing tutors have gone to great lengths to offer hairdressing students new professional skills to add to their training portfolio. Amanda Denny, of Hair Extensions by Amanda, spent a day in the college’s commercial salon demonstrating various hair extension techniques.
A vivid and bold colour has recently been created by one of our Level 2 Hairdressing apprentices, Aimee Read.
The hair-up competition brought in natural elements to the designs.
College Cuts above the rest - Barbering students have been busy promoting their learning company, College Cuts, to boost sales and practice their new skills.
Barbering students got their scissors sharpened and mirrors polished as part of a fundraising event for HAIR REBORN. They provided haircuts, held a bake sale and staged a ‘guess the name of the doll’s head’ game, raising £125 for the charity.
Getting seasonally in tune, level 1 hair and beauty students have been putting in some creative hours as they constructed some fascinating Easter-themed hair designs.
Mattia Rossi, who works at Mansfield’s Goulds Barbers, paid a visit to our barbering students to share knowledge and skills during induction 2023.
“I have really enjoyed doing my work placement at moons barbers, everyone was so kind and helpful and I have learned so many new things.”
Halloween 2023 inspired booked from Level 1 Hair and Beauty students.
“Starting work placement at Moons has really helped progress in college as it has showed me how the working world works.”
Level 2 Women’s Hairdressing Diploma students Danielle Thurman and Mia Cawthorne, produced some great setting techniques using socks and dressing gown belts (who knew!)
Throughout the year you’ll have the opportunity to work on real paying clients in the college salon, which really helped boost my confidence Natasha Bradley.
I started experimenting with hairdressing techniques and realised it is a career that I would like to follow. I researched the courses here at West Notts and thought it looked perfect! I really enjoy learning on this course!
Studying on the course was the first time I’d ever picked up a pair of scissors. I couldn’t be more grateful for the road which it has led me down and caused me to absolutely fall in love with the profession that is barbering – Aiden Brown.
FAQs - hairdressing courses
The following information will hopefully give you a little bit more of an insight into what it will be like to be a student with us.
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Where will I study?
All of our hair, beauty and make-up artistry courses are based at our Derby Road campus, Mansfield, in specialist facilities which include salons and teaching rooms.
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What is it like?
The college is an adult, professional environment intended to prepare you to work in your chosen industry. As such, we expect students’ behaviour to reflect the world of work. Attendance and punctuality are very important. There are chemicals that we use in the salons that could be dangerous if not used properly. Therefore, we have very high expectations in terms of behaviour and attitude.
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What will I study?
The courses are a mix of practical sessions, either in a training or commercial salon, and traditional theory sessions in a classroom. The higher the level of programme, the more theory-based work you will be expected to do. It is important you understand that you will not be in a salon all the time. Your practical work will be assessed but you will also have to submit written assignments as part of your course.
Students will be expected to spend some time in our commercial salons. These are open to members of the public and also operate in the evenings. Doing a shift in the evening is a mandatory part of the course. The college will support you with arranging transport home if that is not possible to arrange personally.
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What about English and maths?
If you start at college and you haven’t yet achieved your English and maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above, then you will continue to study these for three hours each week per subject. At the end of your first year you will take a re-sit GCSE exam. It is important you attend your English and maths lessons alongside your chosen course.
Take a look at our fact sheets to find out why English and maths is important within this industry.
View English and maths fact sheets
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What will I have to wear?
You will be expected to wear the hair and beauty uniform, comprising of a tabard and black trousers, at all times. We also ask that all students wear fully-enclosed flat, black shoes. Hair will need to represent the industry students are studying in; e.g. hair and beauty expectations are a neat bun. Students are asked to wear minimal/neutral make-up and have nails short if working in beauty therapy. However, in hairdressing false nails are allowed if they are not too long.
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Will I have to do a work placement?
At levels 2 and 3 you will be expected to complete a work placement and the central work placement team will help you find one. This will be within a salon or a spa and is a great way for you to get your foot in the door, impress an employer and potentially move into a job or apprenticeship as a result. We have great links with local employers and have a lot of apprentices studying on-site with us.
All of our students will be able to also get engaged with our learning companies, which provide in-house opportunities to gain real-world experience. This year students have operated a brow bar for students and staff, plus pop-up barbers and nail treatments as part of the learning companies.
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Will there be somewhere for me to safely secure my belongings?
Yes. You will have access to lockers. It's just a £10 deposit for the year and they are operated using a £1 coin (which will be returned to you after each use).
Not answered your question? Then ask your teacher
Send your questions to your teachers using our simple online form.
Ask a question
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Applicant activities
Before you start at West Notts, here are a few activites to get involved in.
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What our teachers say
Listen to teacher Suzanne Szepeta tell you about her career journey in the hairdressing industry and hear about some of the great opportunities you’re going to get on the programmes that she teaches.
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In the news
Students get industry insights on employability week
Students get industry insight on employability week from stylist Mark Maciver, whose clients include basketball player Lebron James, boxing champion Anthony Joshua, and rappers Stormzy and Tinie Tempah.
Read the story