Mother hits out after school sends son home over haircut
A MUM feels her son was sent home from school unfairly because of his new haircut.
Jake Hayday, 14, was told to go home by teachers at Carlton le Willows Academy in Gedling on Wednesday. They told him his new haircut, which has been shaved short at the sides, is inappropriate.
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Jake Hayday and mum Donna Bergin
But Jake's mum, Donna Burgin, is angry and claims he has been unfairly punished for what he considered to be a fashionable hairstyle.
She said: "It's ridiculous. I had a phone call on Wednesday saying Jake had been told to go home because of his haircut.
"I don't see how it can be offensive. You see some haircuts in a Mohican style which probably aren't suitable for schools. But this is far from that. It's not like he's had all of his hair shaved off. I think they should be concentrating on other issues, rather than sending Jake home."
Ms Burgin, 31, of Netherfield, said she had been told Jake could return to school, but would be placed in isolation until his hair has changed in accordance with school policy.
"I'm not sending him to school to sit in isolation. I don't see that he has done anything wrong. Yet he is being punished for it," said Ms Burgin, who has three other sons, Chace, eight, Che, six, Gage, three, who all go to Netherfield Primary School. The family say they have met representatives from Carlton le Willows but they haven't been able to come up with a solution.
Jake's grandmother, Lynn Loach, 51, of Gedling, added: "I see kids going to that school every day and many of them have haircuts which are similar or even worse. Why aren't they getting sent home?
"Jake wears the uniform properly every day. He's had a difficult time in the last couple of years. Now he has been sent home for doing nothing wrong."
Carlton le Willows became an academy last year, meaning it was no longer under direct control of the local authority. The school's policy on students' dress says students shouldn't have close-shaven hair. It reads: "Pupils' hair should be clean and tidy without extremity of cut, colour and style. For guidance, the school will not permit a style which draws notable attention to the student concerned."
Jake's family are adamant his haircut doesn't contravene the dress code.
However, the school is insisting he changes the style.
Jake returned to school on Friday after his dad Andrew Hayday, 37, of Colwick, met head teacher Craig Weaver to discuss the issue. Ms Burgin then received a letter from Mr Weaver on Saturday.
In the letter, he said: "It was my view that Jake's hair was not in keeping with the school's policy because of the difference in length between the top and the sides, which tapered at the back."
In a statement, Mr Weaver said: "It is entirely appropriate for Carlton le Willows to have a uniform policy. Our policy on uniform, by its very definition, requires pupils to be generally 'conventional' in terms of their dress and appearance. This high standard helps to set an appropriate tone at the academy.
"The vast majority of parents ensure that their child or children come to school in accordance with our requirements.
"However, parents, of course, do have freedom, under the School Admissions Code, to send their children to a school of their choosing, assuming that is the school is not full, where different procedures apply. All schools have different ethos, policies, procedures and success rates. Parents may consider all these aspects, together with many other practical and social factors, when choosing a school for their children.
"My concern is that if I were to make an exception for one pupil, whether that be a style of footwear, clothing, hairstyle or the wearing of jewellery, we would, I believe, no longer justify the zero tolerance approach to all the various 'popular and gang culture clothing and hairstyles' pupils might request to have.
"We should not underestimate the influence that pupils' daily appropriate appearance has in maintaining high academic and behavioural standards across the academy.''
79 Comments
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by nikki_rich
Thursday, March 29 2012, 10:50PM
“The school is pathetic! its just haircut! whats wrong with it lads are supposed to have short hair. He would attract more attention to himself if his hair was longer! The school should put more effort into teaching children than picking on them because of the new modern haircuts coming in. I mean come on its a different century!!! expect it and live with it!”
by DerpMcHerp
Sunday, February 05 2012, 12:03PM
“Mum 31 minus son 14 = you do the maths !”
by Gayleh69
Wednesday, January 25 2012, 2:10PM
“If he had turned up to School with that haircut 25-30 years ago, he would have been thought of as a punk (I loved punk and still do!) and classed as a thug. I can see where the School is coming from on this one”
by Friartuck123
Tuesday, January 24 2012, 8:14PM
“Congratulations to Jake's family for highlighting this idiotic ruling which has nothing to do with education and everything to do with the school's ego.
In the real world it is possible to appeal against officious decisions but here the headteacher wants to be the judge, jury & executioner in his own fiefdom regardless of the feeling for anyone else.
If the school has an anti-bullying policy then I would hope that the head is invited to explain why he deems it necessary to throw his weight around as the biggest bully in the school and what sort of example that sets to everyone else. In the 21st century "might" is NOT always right!”
by samxuk
Tuesday, January 24 2012, 8:09PM
“if they cared more about their work then the way they look, we would have a few more brainier kids in this country!!!!”
by zicorice
Sunday, January 22 2012, 6:19PM
“Well done to the school for standing firm. If the parents don't like the policies they can either (a) Try to become a Governor to make changes or (b) Choose a new school with less strict discipline (and probably lower standards).
I'm sick to death of hearing people bleating about things like this. It is a decline in respect for discipline, personal standards and the "respect" word (not to mention the you tube culture) that has lead to a a downward trend in moral standards over the last 10-20 years, manifesting itself in last summer riots.
Currently many schools are trying to raise the bar in terms of discipline and personal standards, like it or not this starts with clear expectations in terms of uniform and personal appearance. Zero tolerance on the little things usually helps avoid the serious disruption that has blighted many schools and teachers over the years.
I suppose this all ties in with the other story on the "coppers" show. Some people will defend any wrong doing if they are able to criticise the Govt/Police/teachers.
People blamed standards in schools in part for the riots. Yet when schools set clear guidelines to the standards thet expect, people like Ms Burgin allow their son to go against this, then fail to support the school and go to the press!
To Ms Burgin: If you think having his hair against school policy is more important than his education, in what I believe to be a very good school, following Mr Naisbets tenure as Head Teacher, then move schools. If not then sort his hair out, support the school and give the young lad a chance to achieve the best he can to prepare him for a tough World, where if your boss tells you your head needs sorting, you sort it.”
by Neil0123
Sunday, January 22 2012, 11:08AM
“Ah, this story shows the solution to that age old problem of taking the kids out of school for a week's holiday during term time.... Just cut the hair in a neat fashion which upsets the head teacher. Get them suspended (sorry, excluded) for a week - to allow it to grow back - and spend that week on your cheapo holiday.
No fine payable, as it is the school that has decreed a week away from their desk.
Can I ask a follow-up question to the issue of hairstyles?
Some people are naturally blonde, others are naturally redhead and some have flowing black locks. If a redhead dyed their hair black or someone who was auburn decided on "bottle blonde" then would that contravene the "hair" policy?
In the story, the school is reported to have offered one-to-one tuition until the hair grows again. Let us assume that other parents thought it would mean a better level of education for their children if they were personally taught on a "one to one" basis in isolation. Then are we going to have 30 sets of parents who deliberately send their children to school with this neat hair style, just so they all have the benefit of personalised education?”
by joemarshalljm
Friday, January 20 2012, 5:45PM
“Are they serious, what year is this? I can't believe they have a rule saying 'don't express yourself, don't draw attention to yourself, be like everyone else'. The school must be doing badly and they're trying to take focus away from the bad teachers and blaiming students hair. It reminds me of the intro to a classic Simpsons where Homer goes to work in a pink shirt and Mr Burns says 'he looks like some kind of free thinking maniac!'”
by FormerlyW
Friday, January 20 2012, 5:13PM
“I always like the way the photographer carefully tells the subjects not to smile. Talk about amateur hour!”
by AlfredJingle
Friday, January 20 2012, 3:53PM
“Do you wanna tek a photo fer the paper mi duck? Here ya tek it agen this new wallpaper wot I got. I'll go en get one o me nice tops on. Jake goen gerra wash yer little toerag.”