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Department Newsletter

Welcome

Greetings from Castleford College’s Hair & Beauty Department!

I am thrilled to welcome you to read our departmental newsletter, an exciting publication designed to keep you informed and engaged with the latest happenings, developments and opportunities in our amazing department.

As the head of the department, I am continually inspired by the passion and innovation that our students and staff bring to the world of hair and beauty. This newsletter is our way of sharing that inspiration with you.

In this edition, you can expect to find a wealth of information. We will bring you the latest news from our department, keeping you up to date with current trends and departmental achievements. It is an excellent way for you to stay connected and informed about the field.

We also believe in the power of real stories to inspire and guide. That is why we will be featuring student case studies, showcasing the journeys, challenges and successes of our students. These stories not only highlight the real-world application of our courses but also serve as a testament to the supportive and innovative environment that Castleford College offers.

Additionally, we understand the importance of experiencing the environment where students will learn and grow. Therefore, our newsletter includes extra-curricular activities that happen in and around college.

Good luck with your exams and we look forward to welcoming you in September!

Amy O’Keefe Head of Hair & Beauty castleford.ac.uk

Hair & Beauty students take on Japan

Hair & Beauty students from Castleford College took part in a bespoke training programme in Tokyo, Japan - gaining first-hand insights into East Asia’s beauty industry to enrich their learning.

Students and tutors travelled across the world to immerse themselves into Japan’s fascinating hairdressing and beauty industry. Over the course of two weeks, the students completed industry training sessions at Japanese salons to build on their pre-existing skills and broaden their portfolios.

The students visited Panasonic Beauty Salon, Hair Taya Salon and Tokyo College of Hair Design, where industry professionals showcased the various products and services Japanese salons offer. Students trained in a range of disciplines including hair care, hair colouring, hair counselling and Japanese-style makeup techniques.

Outside of industry training, students explored Shibuya, visited animal cafes and had a day out at Disney.

HAIR & BEAUTY

Did you know our professional salon, Elements, provides hair and beauty services to paying members of the public?

Customers are invited to choose treatments from our extensive range of relaxing beauty therapy and holistic treatments, and stylish hairdressing. All treatments are delivered in a professional salon environment with the range of treatments performed by training therapists and stylists under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Scan the QR Code to visit our Facebook page.

Student Awards

Every year we celebrate our students’ successes at our Annual Hair & Beauty Student Awards!

Scan the QR code to see this year’s winners:

New Student Day

In July, you will be invited to join us for a New Student Day. Get a taster of what is in store come September and familiarise yourself with the College. Get stuck into activities surrounding your course and meet new friends!

See the back page of this newsletter for more details.

Hear from our Students

Danielle

“I have always loved hairdressing, and I started my first part-time job in a hairdressers when I was 14 years old. I chose to study Level 2 Hairdressing because I enjoy learning new things and gaining a deeper understanding of a subject I enjoy. My favourite parts of the course are colouring, cutting and being creative. It is a nice feeling being able to make people look nice.”

Ashleigh

“I decided to study the Level 2 Beauty Therapy course at Castleford as I’d heard lots of great things about the College. I’ve now progressed onto the Level 3 Beauty Therapy course and my confidence has grown so much. I love meeting the clients and want to open my own salon in the future.”

Christmas Creativity

Our Level 1 Hairdressing and Level 2 NVQ students let their imaginations run wild when they were tasked with creating Christmas-themed hairstyles. Here are some of their festive works.

Celebrity Hairdresser Masterclass

Celebrity hairdresser, Andrew Barton, gave our Hairdressing students an industry masterclass. He showed the students how to recreate some of the latest hair trends before presenting them with their certificates for graduating the Andrew Barton ABLE programme.

ExtraCurricular Activities

Restart a Heart

Staff and students from across the College learned how to restart a heart as part of Restart a Heart Day in Yorkshire.

Thank you to Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust staff and volunteers who have enabled them to become CPR confident.

Student of the Month

We love celebrating our hardworking Hair & Beauty students. Our Student of the Month award shines a light on those who show determination, perseverance, and positivity.

Valentine’s Activities

Our Activities Team gave students a chance to win a valentines hamper full of goodies and lots of runner up prizes during Valentine’s Week.

Ear Piercing Course

Our Studex ear piercing course gave students a detailed theory session regarding the piercing process and aftercare. Students were even given the opportunity to train on models to gain hands-on experience.

Group Secures Number One Spot for FE College Achievement Rates in the Region

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has ranked first in Yorkshire & the Humber for student achievement amongst General Further Education Colleges, also securing fifth place nationally.

This highly impressive result follows a strong performance across the Group’s 16–18 provision, with the latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs) for 2024/2025 confirming the Group as the region’s highest-performing FE college for learners aged under 19.

In addition to this success, the Group also achieved fourth place regionally for Apprenticeship achievement rates, further highlighting its strength across further education and skills training.

The results position the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and its three colleges – Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College - as having the best achievement results of all further education colleges in Yorkshire & the Humber region and being the fifth top-performing further education college in England, reflecting the quality of teaching, support and student outcomes delivered across its campuses and programmes.

The NARTs are key summary indicators of performance in education and training and apprenticeships and demonstrate the percentage of students that were awarded their qualifications. Published annually, the national tables rank over 150 colleges.

I am so proud of this phenomenal accolade. Being ranked first in the region for our 16-18 achievement rates and fifth nationally is something we are incredibly proud of and reflects both the ambition of our students and the quality of education and support across the Group. These results are a true reflection of the dedication and care shown by our staff, who go above and beyond every day to help our learners succeed academically, grow as individuals and move forward with confidence into their next steps.”

Sam Wright Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

OPEN EVENTS

OCTOBER 2026

MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM

Castleford College

WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM

Wakefield College

NOVEMBER 2026

SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER: 10AM-12PM

Wakefield College and Castleford College

FEBRUARY 2027

WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM

Wakefield College and Castleford College

Combining Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group saw outstanding pass rates in 2024/2025, with Selby College securing a 99% pass rate across its A Level programmes and Wakefield College a 98%. Castleford College and Wakefield College also achieved an impressive 100% pass rate for their T Level courses.

A significant number of its learners also progressed onto employment or higher education, including Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and many more.

Across its colleges, the Group offers a broad range of 16–18 study programmes, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational and technical courses. It also delivers a wide variety of apprenticeships, designed to reflect local labour market needs and support learners into meaningful careers.