A schoolboy who grew his hair so it could be made into a wig for a children’s cancer charity has been booted out of class – because he is breaking uniform rules.
Harley Leedham, 11, has spent nine months growing his locks in aid of the Little Princess Trust – a charity providing wigs for kids undergoing chemotherapy.
The year eight pupil was hoping to grow his hair up to 12 inches long before getting it cut so the charity could give it to a young cancer sufferer.
But when he went to a parent’s evening at St George’s Academy in Sleaford, Lincs., he was told his hair broke school rules.
Shockingly, he was even pulled aside by the vice principal and told to get his hair cut or be removed from class and be taught in isolation.
Mum Victoria, 30, offered to comprise and sent Harley to school on Thursday 24 September with his hair tied back back he was sent home.
Yesterday she fumed: “The school policy is archaic. It is gender discrimination and sexism. Girls can have short or long hair, why can’t boys?”
“Harley has been doing really well at his new school and making friends and after three weeks he has been threatened with exclusion but has done nothing wrong.
Harley, who lives in Sleaford, added: “It is upsetting as all I want to do is help people.
“It is because I am growing it for charity which I have already done once and I want to help people who have cancer.
“It is making me feel upset because I am trying to help people and people are trying to stop me.
“There are a few boys with long hair but not as long as mine.”
Victoria claims the school’s policy on hair is unspecific and said Harley had previously been told to cut his hair verbally by a teacher.
But the mum had asked the school to contact her to discuss the issue directly and had heard nothing back.
According to St George’s Academy’s website, the school’s uniform policy says that hair should be a “suitable, neat style and natural colour”.
It states: “The Academy has adopted the type of uniform worn in all good educational establishments.
“It is intended to ensure that a positive image of high standards is presented at all times and we ask for the support of parents in buying the correct items of uniform in the first instance and by ensuring their child wears them in Academy.
“We expect our students to be neat, clean and smartly dressed as would be expected in any place of employment.”
“Hair should be a suitable, neat style and natural colour. Extremes of hair styles and colour, as decided by the Academy, are not acceptable.”
Headteacher Wayne Birks said: “We have fantastic students and highly co-operative parents and we do have a dress code.
“I haven’t had chance to meet with the parents yet but I will be meeting them to see how we can move this forward. It’s about conversation and dialogue.
“We are committed to working with the parents to see how we can resolve the situation that has occurred.
“This is a Year 7 student who has just joined us and the relationship will go on for five years.
“Unfortunately these things arise and we will deal with them accordingly.”
