Slap happy! Top school’s make-up lesson for girls
IT has traditionally been banned, alongside short skirts, high heels and too much jewellery.
But make-up has been granted a reprieve at one leading private school, with experts being brought in to teach pupils how to apply it.
The lessons at £18,000-a-year Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire, are believed to be the first of their kind in the country.
They have been introduced after one 15-year-old pupil disclosed that she was suffering anxiety over a skin condition and wanted to learn how to use beauty products.
The co-educational school, which has 570 pupils, has also lifted a ban on make-up for under-16s. The 40-minute sessions with a qualified make-up artist cover good skincare, hormones and diet as well as how to apply products.
Deputy head Beth Kerr said: ‘The lessons start with a bit about good skin and taking care of yourself with sleep and good hydration. Then there are tips about how to apply cover-up products as too much can be bad for the skin.’
The modules are part of personal, social and health education lessons (PSHE) at Immanuel, which is part of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference that includes Eton and Harrow.
Ms Kerr said she had been affected by the pupil’s account of how her self-confidence had been undermined by her spots, adding: ‘Social media has made girls more self-conscious because they are always being judged on their appearance.’
And the school does not confine the use of make-up to girls. Ms Kerr said: ‘Any boy who wants to join the sessions would be allowed to do so. Any children with transgender feelings will be supported.’