School at cutting edge
May 2009
by Patricia Coulter
Hands on ... Ipswich State High School Year 12 student Lizzy Baunach washes a client's hair at the hair and beauty training school.
Ipswich State High School has shown it's a cut above the rest.
First they made a movie featuring their dance students and won the Yes Optus Dance Crew Fund prize of $5000 to improve their dance facilities.
Now they have opened their own hair and beauty training salon to give students real-life work experience while they are still at school.
Principal Simon Riley believes this is a first in Queensland.
'We have rented commercial space and established a hair and beauty salon in the Ipswich town centre,' Mr Riley said.
'It is opened to the public and is providing real training for our Year 12 students.
'The salon runs four days a week with students providing a full range of hair and beauty services.
'They work under the supervision of fully qualified hair and beauty practitioners who are also qualified teachers on staff.
'The salon is a great success not only for students but also the customers.'
Student Elizabeth Baunach said the salon had helped her learn to deal with customers and to colour their hair.
'People love the salon because it is well located and the prices are so low - customers can get a shampoo and cut for as little as $10,' Elizabeth said.
Mr Riley said the salon had attracted students from outside Ipswich High because the registered training organisation issued nationally recognised qualifications.
'I find it interesting that we also have had a great response from mature-aged students who can enrol because we are a registered training organisation,' he said.
'Eight mature-aged students attend school one day a week and they run the salon on Thursdays.'
Mr Riley said the innovative idea was put forward four years ago by sisters Nicole Sherlock and Deb Whyatt who now taught the students.
'It was through their drive and the help of our business services manager Jenny Brett and one of our deputy principals Gavin Bryce that this has become a reality,' he said.
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