South Thames College

South Thames College, part of South Thames Colleges Group, teaches hair at its Wandsworth centre and groups its provision under hairdressing and barbering. Men’s hair is covered within the City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Women’s and Men’s Hairdressing, whose mandatory units include cutting men’s hair alongside consultation, shampooing and conditioning, blow-drying, setting and occasion styling, colouring and cutting women’s hair. Study combines daytime lessons with one evening or Saturday session, and students must work or volunteer in a salon at least two days a week.

Assessment is by observation of work on paying clients in the college’s commercial salons, written and online tests, assignments and a portfolio, with entry normally three GCSEs at grade 4-9 including English plus maths at grade 3 or above. A Level 1 hairdressing course at Wandsworth introduces preparation for hairdressing or barbering services, and standalone barbering certificates are run elsewhere in the group at Kingston College.