A teenager has been pulled out of lessons after he dyed his hair an exotic shade of blue – for CHARITY.
Joshua Star-Harris, a Year 8 pupil at a school in Hull, East Yorks., dyed his hair blue before shaving it off to raise cash for Cancer Research UK and the homeless.
After returning to St Mary’s College from the Christmas break, 13-year-old Joshua was told he would not be allowed into normal lessons because some dye still remained in his hair – and was sent to the pastoral centre.
His anxious mum Ellie Star says she asked the school how short she could cut his hair to ensure the dye was removed.
Although his hair has been cut as short as the school permits – a ‘green tinge’ still remains.
Speaking about her son’s fundraising endeavour, Ms Star said: “He had seen a video on Facebook of the homeless.
“That really cut him deep and he said, ‘what can we do to help them?’
“Then he came up with this (dyeing his hair).
“We spoke to the school before he broke up and said what he was doing and he wasn’t allowed to dye his hair until he broke off from school, which was understandable.
“He’s tried everything to get it out.”
Kind-hearted Joshua – who is raising funds for Cancer Research UK to show support to a family member – has now been left with a green tinge to his hair despite shaving his head.
Ms Star says when her son returned to school on Monday, he was placed in the pastoral centre – which she claims is the same as being in isolation – and means he is in a room with pupils who have misbehaved.
She says she was also given the impression Joshua would remain in the pastoral centre until the colour naturally came out of his barnet.
She added: “They are in a room with other children who have misbehaved basically – so that to me is punishment.
“He’s a really good student. When they send these certificates home for excellence, he has all that stuff sent home.”
“It’s not like he is a disruptive child. You could understand it if he was always going to school and doing stuff like this, but he’s not.”
“He has done this off his own back for Cancer Research and the homeless and they have just punished him for it basically.”
The 13-year-old is also planning to take part in a cycle challenge in Hull and has raised more than £100 for his efforts.
Ellie added: “Just from watching a homeless video, the way it’s got to him, it’s just like, ‘wow’.
“A 13-year-old boy, you don’t expect that sort of thing.”
In response, the strict school believed the hair cut was below the high standards they have always set.
Ged Fitzpatrick, headteacher at St Mary’s College, said: “The young man has not been placed in isolation.
“St Mary’s College makes absolutely no apology for the highest of standards.
“Those high standards led to St Mary’s College being in the top 30 schools in the country.”
