Special needs school opens cutting-edge hair salon

Cameron, 17, has been learning about curling and straightening

A school for children with special needs has opened its own hair salon.

The Hair Hive has been set up in the Bee Hive, the sixth form centre for Northgate School in Northampton.

The aim is to provide students with experience of a real working environment.

One pupil said she had never thought about hairdressing before, but "I really love it".

The idea of having a salon was born 10 years ago when a hairdresser in nearby Kingsthorpe closed down and offered the school a sink.

A few years later, Northgate got some money together to buy a hairdressing chair and an online retailer handed over £1,000 to equip the facility.

The salon has now started combing the local area for clients.

Sheralee Webb, the executive head teacher, said the salon built the pupils' confidence and customer service skills

Sheralee Webb, the executive head teacher, said: "We don't do anything with chemicals, we don't allow them to cut, but it's just fabulous for them to talk to people from outside, chat about what they're doing and what they like.

"It builds their confidence, builds their customer service and hospitality skills.

"They're skills they can take on and use in the hairdressing industry. We're hoping to expand and do a little bit more with the beauty side."

Tracy Forsyth, who is a stylist, has been helping the youngsters brush up their skills.

She said: "The last few weeks we've been working on shampooing techniques and we've done quite a lot of plaiting. Molly's our plaiting expert - she's really nailing it - and Cameron's really getting stuck-in with the blow-drying."

Mollie (left) likes braiding and Cameron prefers blow-drying

Cameron, 17, said: "It inspires me a lot to do curling and straightening, and the washing and drying process.

"I think it's gone really well and I've loved it."

Molly, 17, said she had "never thought" about hairdressing, but "since I've been doing it I really love it.

"I like braiding hair - I've tried to practise on myself."