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Leeds schoolboy’s hair gel ban
BANNED HAIRSTYLE: Adam Saville with mum Kerry.
A Leeds schoolboy was removed from his class for two weeks.... because his spiky, gelled hair did not meet uniform standards.
Adam Saville, 11, was only allowed to return to his year seven class at Pudsey Grangefield when he agreed to flatten his inch-high hair.
Now his mother Kerry has vowed to take the matter to the school’s board of Governors, claiming it is trying to turn children into “clones” and acting “more like the army than a school”.
Issues arose a fortnight ago when Adam was ordered by his teachers to flatten his spiked hair. After refusing - with his family’s backing - he was put in isolation.
He spent most of the next fortnight in and out of ‘isolation’.
The school’s dress code does not refer to spiked hair, but stresses “hair should be clean and well-groomed.” Ten listed examples of “inappropriate” dress include “hair dyed in unnatural colours or cut in extreme styles”.
“It’s not an extreme haircut but they are calling it extreme,” Mrs Saville, from Bramley, said.
“It’s worn by nearly every lad walking down the street. If he had a six-inch mohican or a load of shapes shaved into his head, we would support the school. But it was stuck up one inch.
She has now agreed to let Adam flatten his hair and return to his class. But she insisted: “His hair has not affected his education, but the school’s attitude has. Adam is a good student,” she added.
“This is the only bit of his personality he is allowed to show. They are taking his individuality away.”
Ken Cornforth, headteacher said: “There are bound to be occasions when views of parents differ from that of the school. In this case a school’s representative met with parents. Following the meeting, the pupil is now back in normal lessons and their hair meets the standards of our school dress code.”
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Comments
There are 53 comments to this article
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progress
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 06:39 PMuk2cyprus."............................. 'last word' :-) Oh, you let me down....that was TWO :-( Steven91 ....so, if you started a job in the workplace, and were very happy there, until four months later and the Boss told you he didn't like your hair, and you could leave if you wanted to, you wouldn't be upset or unhappy about this? The Point, again, being, it was acceptable for four months, then out of the blue, unacceptable. Sigh..................................................................................................
Steven91
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:21 PMIf the parent doesn't like it, she can just take her child out of the school. There are uniform's there for a reason, it simulates real life work situations. If a job has a strict dress code you stick to it, or face being disciplined and then fired if you keep doing it. I hope schools keep doing stuff like this, children need the discipline and not to be treated like they live in their own little "do what ever they want" bubble all the time.
uk2cyprus
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 12:18 AM"UK2Cyprus...(nice 'text speak' username)" Thank you - you have a nice one too :-) "My biggest disappointment, is that you are missing the point altogether." Please don't be so disappointed. "I'm sure you will revel in having the 'last word'."............................. 'last word' :-)
progress
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:04 PMUK2Cyprus...(nice 'text speak' username) I have no trouble at all in 'comprehending' what you were trying to say, maybe you had trouble in expressing your opinion clearly? The lad is upset, not only because of his hair, but of being singled out, day in and day out, put into isolation, and not being allowed to learn in the classroom environment. The way the teacher in question approaches the pupils is far from pleasant. Manners cost nothing. Knowing the pupils name costs nothing. Neither seem important to this staff member. My biggest disappointment, is that you are missing the point altogether. The school have changed their policy on the definition of 'extreme' hairstyles, but have failed to tell the pupils or the parents. Communication is the key here. I do hope you can comprehend my comments? I'm sure you will revel in having the 'last word'. You strike me as one of those people. Regards!
uk2cyprus
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:57 PMIn reply to Progress: "if they adopt the same attitude as you, the school would be an even unhappier place" It sounds like it is a bundle of laughs right now :-) "if the Teachers at this school were to concentrate on the education, rather than the childrens hair, the grammar would be the first thing to improve, don't you agree." Perhaps if the parents worked in partnership with the teachers instead of against them then things may just improve. Instead silly and trivial matters seem to have been blown out of all proportion. Perhaps if the teachers had children with better discipline to deal with then the education would be better - given some of the comments here then that does not appear to be the case. Education does not exist in isolation - a structured approach and good discipline is also required. "I hope you've calmed down from finding something that genuinely upsets an 11 year old boy" Maybe you have difficulty in comprehending what I actually wrote? I stated that turning to the newspaper for "support" - which was what the parent said - was seriously funny. Hardly a serious issue that needs the support of a newspaper now is it? However now that you have raised the subject do you not feel that for an 11yr old boy to be "genuinely upset" about not being able to put hair gel in his hair is kind of over the top? It is supposed to be a place of learning not a fashion photo shoot - perhaps the parents could, whilst looking after his wellbeing, remind the child of that. Anyway I do hope this can be resolved amicably lest it becomes a national issue requiring the involvement of Parliament and perhaps the European Court Of Human Rights ;-)
progress
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 03:09 PMIn reply to uk2cyprus Yes, Thank God indeed, that your children don't go to the same school, because if they adopt the same attitude as you, the school would be an even unhappier place...... As for stringing a coherent sentence together, you have simply highlighted the fact that if the Teachers at this school were to concentrate on the education, rather than the childrens hair, the grammar would be the first thing to improve, don't you agree. I hope you've calmed down from finding something that genuinely upsets an 11 year old boy (and therefore his parents, looking after his wellbeing) 'seriously funny'. I find your opinions 'seriously sad'.
NH
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 02:35 PMuk2cyprus...never a truer word spoken...! Nyehehe - you are right, well I hope so for her sake....innit!
uk2cyprus
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:18 AMNo wonder our schools are going downhill - when the parents set a poor example there is not much hope for the children! It's about time that instead of complaining about the school or teachers parents take a long hard look at themselves first. This non news story shouldn't even warrant space in a supposedly serious newspaper. Stating that they have turned to the paper for "support" over this trivial matter is seriously funny! Certainly judging by the comments - not many of the pupils can string a coherent sentence together and neither can the parents. The parents should stop worrying about whether their child is fashionable and try and instill some education at home for a change. Rather than trying to prove a point and being stubborn the parents should have worried less about the individuality aspect and more about complying with a simple request. Learning doesn't end when the school bell rings at the end of the school day and parents should remember this. There is however one ray of sunshine in all this - thank God my children don't go to the same school!
kimberlry barber
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 03:50 AMwell NH wen i 16 im gunna look for a job n by the way its kimberley i kinda spelt my name wrong cos i wo tierd n Nyehehe im not a troll n cornforth out do u no paul chadwick cos he wo put in isolation for havin a rat tail n mr day sed he will cut it off which is wrong a teacher cant touch u at all n i wunt mind last year wen i wo in year 9 we could wear pumps i dint get told off wen i had my hair red or purple but now i do grrr its annoyin why complain bout uniforn wen people are bullyin each other n they dont do anything about it
cornforth out!
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 12:10 PMi got put in isolation for 3 week straight with 4 other friends because i had a 2.5 cm 'rats tail', i was let back in to lessons when i went to the barbers or let a teacher cut it off! i find this ridiculous and this is only one of the stupid rules that have been put into our school! along with no getting your phone out (at breaks or dinner) different floors allocated to different year groups, and a lot more! cornforth out!
Mando
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 05:54 PMAdams hairstyle is clean and well groomed in my opinion,he looks like a boy...and I totally agree with his mum that it is not an outlandish style, ie long, over his eyes or even a mohican, my children went to a Church High school and had the same rules about hair, black socks and black leather shoes..my 3 boys had short hair and looked like boys, (and still do)....where we lived there was the Church school and local state school both within a mile radius, and on walking to school you could tell what children went to what school from behind, as at the state school they could wear trainers and have long hair and looked totally dishevelled...but in no way did their uniforms or hair styles stop them from getting on with their school work...I would have complained no end too if my son was put in isolation for his hair style... Vikki1978 since when has Pudsey Grangefield been a public school???...I thought it was a state school run by the Education???
Nyehehe
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 04:11 PMIf you look very closely, you can in fact see that "kimberlry" is a troll.
Bray2k8
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10:18 AMPending Moderation
cpm95
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 09:23 AMI personally think that this has been blown waaayyy out of proportion, I agree with LucieKilbbs; a certain haircut does not affect your learning, what does affect your learning is sitting in isolation not doing anything! However there needs to be a line, I find brightly coloured hair and super long spike hair is inappropriate as well as it looks stupid and maybe that some hair styles should not be carried into work but at the moment students in school aren’t at work! So come on school start looking into more serious situation like bullying, come on yeah? Sincerely a Year 11 student
NH
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 09:12 AMFantastic "Kimberlry", you've just summed up the whole point..without realising it! "..my mum hates thats place and so do i like my cuz he has his hair spiked n he dunt get dun for it and my mates wear pumps and change there hair colour n niether do they but i think they just pick out the people who they dont like and because i dont like it that much i want out of that place i cant wait till im 16...." Innit..! And when your 16 you want to do what??? obviously still wearing your pumps and nose stud.. "dunt get dun", "my mum hates thats place".....Priceless! Need we say more
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