Head issues warning over Barrow boy’s hairstyle
Last updated at 16:34, Wednesday, 20 March 2013
A ROW has erupted over a six-year-old boy’s flamboyant haircut.
Callum Wilson caused a stir when he arrived at Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School in Barrow on Monday with an elaborate pattern shaved into his hair.
The haircut contravened rules in the school’s prospectus saying hair must be worn in an “acceptable style”.
Headteacher Paul Fussell rang the Year One boy’s mum Mary Wilson to tell her of the breach and the need for all children and parents to obey the rules.
But Miss Wilson, of Ainslie Street, has accused the school of being heavy-handed and said children of that age should not be bound by such policies.
She said Callum had asked for the swirly pattern after his seven-year-old cousin, who attends another school in Barrow, had his done last week on Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.
She said: “I didn’t know about his school not allowing things like that, so I let Callum have his hair done. It makes Callum happy. He knows when he gets older that rules will change when he gets in bigger schools, but he should be able try different things at his age.”
Miss Wilson claims she was asked to shave the pattern out of Callum’s hair and warned that further flouting of the rules could see him suspended.
She said: “I said no, I’m not shaving off his hair because he’ll look bald and the kids will laugh at him.
“He’ll have to grow it out. My son is so clever – he’s such a bright kid – and he loves school, he’s never had a day off and for them to say if you do it again he’ll be sent home is ridiculous.”
Mr Fussell said the board of governors determined the school’s policy on haircuts and he was simply enforcing the rules. He said no directive was issued for Callum’s head to be shaved, but rather it was simply raised as a possible way to rectify the situation.
He said: “We have a child and a parent that has gone against our policy and a phone call has gone to the parent requesting that they comply with our policy.
“If that parent then chooses in the future to ignore our request and deliberately goes against our wishes, then obviously we’ll have to consider what action, if any, to take.”
Mr Fussell said if a parent had an issue with the school’s policies they were well within their rights to take the matter up with the board of governors.
First published at 16:13, Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
my son was a pupil at ormsgill school from reception to year 6 . It clearly states in the rules about hair!!! This rule was there long before mr fussell joined the school. RUles are there for a reason and if a parent cant obey the rules then what chance do the poor kids have????
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Learning has nothing whatsoever to do with hairstyles. If a child is motivated and eager to learn then I can't see a problem. Schools are too wrapped up with 'rules' and fitting people in boxes instead of encouraging creativity and individual thinking - it's too dangerous- someone might challenge the system!
Posted by Yvonne Frost on 8 April 2013 at 11:13