Keeping it in the Family

It’s not unheard of to have siblings in the same department at the same time; but to have a mother and daughter on the same course simultaneously, with a younger daughter following not far behind is really unusual. This is the situation with the Woods family from Leighton Buzzard, all of whom are thriving in the Hair and Beauty department.

Mum Jayne, 35, and daughter Carlie, 18, have both just completed their Advanced Diploma in Beauty Level 3 and NVQ Hairdressing Level 1 together. In September they will embark on the Holistics Diploma Level 3 and NVQ Hairdressing Level 2.

Jayne started off on a basic make-up course three years ago, to get a taste of what it was like. She explains, “I was very nervous at first, it was daunting because I’d been at home as a wife and mother of three. I’d always wanted to do this from an early age, but my family took priority. The kids became old enough for me to do something for myself and pick up where I’d left off when I was younger.”

Carlie comments on having her mum in the same class as her, “It’s been really good. Our fellow students have been so supportive and didn’t realise that we were related at first, they thought we were just friends. We do case studies, visit the library and work on the computer together. We practice body massage, facials and hair on each other.”

Danielle, 14, who is a pupil at Vandyke Upper School, studies hair and beauty at the Learning Warehouse Leighton Linslade as part of her GCSE programme. In September she will progress to Level 2 there and plans to leave school after her GCSEs to study a similar programme to Jayne’s and Carlie’s at Kingsland.

As for the family’s future plans, they wish to stick together then too. Jayne explains, “We all really wanted to do this. Carlie and I want to gain experience of working in a salon first and then, because the three of us will all be qualified, we’d like to run our own family business. The tutors here have supported us 100% and encouraged us so much; we wouldn’t be here without them and would recommend this course to other people.”

The family connection doesn’t end there. Jayne comments, “My husband Christopher is very supportive. He drives us to College day and night and two days per week has to do four trips. He also lets us practice facials, massage, hair cuts and even waxing on him!” Carlie adds, “Dad even let me perm his eyelashes, because I needed to do it one more time to complete my course!”

Son Christopher, 13, who would like to enter the construction industry, clearly does not want to be left out of the family business and has offered to build the family salon in the future!