The Skills Centre

The Skills Centre is part of the Danesgate Community and offers a range of vocational and academic courses for students who would like to gain experience and qualifications in Design & Construction, Hair and Beauty and Catering.  Pupils are able to gain either a GCSE and/or a vocational qualification through the NCFE, Eduqas, VTTC and WJEC exam boards in each subject.

The Skills Centre is accessed by some mainstream and special school students who are sent on courses financed by their school.

 
Design and Construction

The course provides a good grounding in a range of practical skills as well as exploring the craft elements of design and materials. The correct use of tools, machinery, health and safety, design and preparation of plans and technical drawings, as well as workspace and site preparation, will be key elements of this course. Creativity is encouraged and taught, leading to learners developing unique and well-engineered final outcomes.  The learner will go on to develop their knowledge and skills within the areas of design and construction, using a wide range of practical techniques to produce a final product. There is a focus on sustainability of materials and creating products through recycling and upcycling.

Salon Crafts / Hair and Beauty

Within the Danesgate skills centre there is a full stocked hair salon. The salon also incorporates nail stations and professional make-up artist chairs. This training salon provides the environment to learn and practice skills from both vocational sectors.

The salon offers VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Hair and Beauty Skills (VRQ) which enable learners to develop hair and beauty skills, techniques and knowledge, which will prepare learners to progress to the next level of vocational learning.

Learners will also have the opportunity to select from a range of technical optional units including:

  • Basic face painting
  • Basic nail art
  • Eyebrow shaping
  • Basic skincare
  • Basic photographic make-up
  • Basic manicure
  • Basic pedicure
  • Blow-drying and finishing hair
  • Basic winding techniques
  • Shampooing and treating the hair
  • Basic plaiting and twisting hair
  • Colour using semi-permanent colour (note: semi-permanent colour unit must be delivered using a training head/block only)
  • Basic clipper cutting techniques for men’s hair or basic cutting techniques for womens hair.
Catering

A fully fitted realistic working kitchen is on offer for students studying this subject area.  This course involves developing a range of core craft skills and knowledge required to prepare and cook national and international cuisine. To gain a broad range of industry best practices that will underpin theory. Cuisine project development; working with all aspects of research, planning and producing selected recipes. This course will help inspire students interested in exploring a career with in the hospitality and catering industry.