Level 2 Hairdressing

Applications Open - Monday 27 October 2025

Applications Close - Open all year

How to Apply - Please apply through KentChoices and use your KentChoices login which your school should provide.

PLEASE NOTE - Popular courses can fill up quickly so apply early to avoid disappointment

If you have any queries regarding the courses, please contact EKC Sheppey College

You can make up to 5 applications to Colleges within the EKC Group, that is:

• EKC Ashford College
• EKC Broadstairs College*
• EKC Canterbury College*
• EKC Dover Technical College
• EKC Folkestone College*
• EKC Sheppey College

*Junior Colleges exist in these locations.

Please only add one course or T Level per application, except for A Levels at EKC Canterbury College, where up to 4 A Level courses can be added per application. At your interview, you and the tutors can discuss the best level and courses in order for you to progress.

Hairdressing is a creative, fast-moving industry where no two days are the same. It’s all about developing technical skill, building confidence, and helping people look and feel their best. This Level 2 course is designed to give you the practical skills and industry knowledge needed to begin your journey as a hairdresser. If you’re interested in hairdressing, you probably enjoy meeting new people, experimenting with styles, and seeing the transformation your work can create. On this course, you’ll learn how professional hairdressers deliver high-quality services in salon environments. You’ll build your confidence with unique experience in our industry-standard salons, working on paying clients while learning from experienced lecturers. As you develop your technical ability and client care skills, you’ll be ready for your first role in a salon, an apprenticeship, or further specialised study. This two-year programme provides additional time to achieve English and/or Maths, with additional trips, and employer engagement activities.

On this Level 2 Hairdressing course, you’ll develop the basic skills and knowledge needed to begin your career in the hair industry. Studying with us means exploring a range of core techniques and professional practices, including: • Cutting hair • Colouring hair • Styling hair • Salon stock control • Client interaction and engagement • Health and safety Most of your clients will be found in our industry-standard commercial salons. These spaces give you genuine experience using professional equipment and products while gaining confidence in a salon environment. Clients are a mix of genders, meaning you gain hairdressing and barbering experience on the course. Dedicated work experience opportunities are also available throughout the year. These enhance your learning and enable you to gain valuable insight into the industry, before your next steps.

All assessments are designed to ensure you can demonstrate your practical ability and understanding of professional hairdressing techniques. You’ll be assessed with practical observations in our salons, alongside written assignments and online tests that check your knowledge and understanding. Most importantly, you’ll also build a portfolio of your work, giving you a visual record of your progress and achievements that you can use for future opportunities.

This pathway gives you time to develop skills in your chosen area and improve your English and maths to a grade 4 or equivalent. Reaching this level will help you have more opportunities in the future, like getting a skilled job, an apprenticeship, or moving on to a Level 3 course. To join this programme, you'll need the equivalent of 4 GCSEs at grades 2 to 1, including English and maths at Level 1 or higher.

After completing this Level 2 course, you’ll be ready to begin working in an entry-level position within the hair and beauty industry. You may also choose to progress onto further study, such as a Level 3 qualification, or move into an apprenticeship to continue developing your skills in a real working environment. Level 2 learner, Rosie, has now been offered paid-work thanks to studying the Level 2 course, and is eager about her next steps: "Placement at Beez Neez was great. I think it’s really helped with my confidence and I'm more comfortable around new people, which I used to struggle with a lot. "I’m very pleased that I’ve been offered paid work there when I’m not in College. I’d love to get a full-time job in a Salon and focus on cutting and styling when I finish my studies. College is a great step to take."