Father’s fury after his son, 12, is put into ISOLATION at school over ‘extreme’ partly-shaven haircut and blonde highlights
- James Cullen says son would not have received same punishment if he was a girl
- Jacob returned to school following the Easter break on April 19 with new haircut
- The haircut included blonde highlights and parts shaved down to a grade one
- But within two hours he was placed into isolation away from other students
A father has been left furious after his 12-year-old son was placed into isolation at school over his ‘extreme’ partly shaven haircut and blonde highlights.
James Cullen does not believe his son Jacob would have been given the same punishment by teachers at St Andrew’s Catholic School in Leatherhead, Surrey, if he was a girl.
Jacob returned to the school following the Easter break on April 19 sporting a new haircut that included blonde highlights and parts of his hair shaved down to a grade one.
But within a couple of hours, Mr Cullen received a phone call from teachers saying the hairstyle was unacceptable and his son had been place in isolation away from other students.
He remained separated from classmates during free periods and breaks for the rest of the week, leading to Mr Cullen requesting a meeting with school staff.
Having seen female pupils at the school with similar highlights, he says he believes the punishment was unreasonable.
The father said: ‘In the meeting I had with the school, his head of year suggested that he shave his head.
James Cullen (left) does not believe his son Jacob (right) would have been given the same punishment by teachers at St Andrew’s Catholic School in Leatherhead, Surrey, if he was a girl
Jacob returned to school last week with a new haircut that included blonde highlights and parts of his hair shaved down to a grade one
Jacob was kept in isolation for a week after returning to school, leading to his father requesting a meeting with staff
The school says Jacob’s haircut (pictured) was in contravention of its uniform policy, which is stated on its website
The school’s uniform policy reads: ‘Hair colour and style must be appropriate for school. Dyed hair is not acceptable. Number 2 is the shortest cut allowed’
‘I don’t believe for a minute if he was a female pupil that they would have said that.’
The school has said no such suggestion was made during the meeting.
Despite Mr Cullen’s protestations, Jacob’s isolation continued until Monday, at which point he threatened to keep his son at home the school persisted with the punishment.
The school said the isolation would end the next day as it felt the need to draw a line under the matter.
But Mr Cullen added: ‘I don’t want to draw a line under it, I’ve just started. What we need is consistency, the rules need to apply across the board.
‘I’ve dropped Jacob off at school every morning for the past seven months, and I’ve seen lots of female students with bleached blonde hair.’
St Andrew’s Catholic School’s uniform policy, displayed on its website, states: ‘Extremes of fashion in clothing, footwear and hairstyle are not permitted.
‘Hair colour and style must be appropriate for school. Dyed hair is not acceptable. Number 2 is the shortest cut allowed.’
And its headteacher Alan Mitchell denied accusations that the rules were applied differently for male and female pupils, insisting that the school’s policy is clearly explained to parents months before their child is admitted.
He said: ‘Parents would expect me to apply the rules fairly and consistently. We made the rules crystal clear, and we know that’s what is best for the kids.’