Furious parents claim their teenage daughter has been treated ‘like a prisoner’ by her school because they dyed her hair lilac.
Kadey Wood, 12, was placed in isolation away from her friends after arriving at school on the first day of term with her quirky-coloured do.
Mother Carla said Kadey, a Year 8 pupil at Meopham School, Kent, dyed her hair along with her pals at the beginning of the summer holidays – but while their colour is back to normal, her dye is yet to disappear.
Kadey Wood (pictured left) from Northfleet, Kent was put in isolation by teachers at Meopham School after she returned from the summer break with lilac hair. Her mother Carla (right) claims she was ‘treated like a prisoner’ and not allowed to go out and see her friends at break times
The school says they are sticking by their uniform policy that states children’s hair must be a natural colour.
So after two days in isolation, Mrs Wood has decided to keep Kadey at home, despite running the risk of getting a fine for her ‘unauthorised absences’.
The 29-year-old mother-of-three said: ‘She’s not even allowed out at lunch or break to see her friends – her lunch is brought to her.
The 12-year-old dyed her hair lilac with her friends at the beginning of the summer holidays, but while her pals’ colour has disappeared, her lilac shades have remained
Mother and father Carla and Chris were so ‘fuming’ with how she was treated, they have decided to keep her at home, despite running the risk of being fined for ‘unauthorised absences’
Mother-of-three Mrs Wood claims her daughter has been very upset by the whole saga
‘She can only leave to use the toilet.
‘It’s going to affect her learning not being with each subject teacher and not socialising with her peers.
‘It has upset her because she does like school and being able to see her friends.
‘I feel this will be much more detrimental to her education than a lilac tint in her hair.’
Full-time mother Carla, who lives in Northfleet, said she cannot use a shop-bought product to remove the colour from Kadey’s hair because it will not work over natural-looking highlights and a trip to the hairdresser will cost up to £60.
The lilac dye cost £9 for two packs in Superdrug.
Teachers at Meopham School (pictured) in Kent are sticking by their uniform policy, which clearly states pupils’ hair must be a natural colour
Father Chris, 36, said he was ‘fuming’ and added: ‘I understand they try to enforce conformity to all the students but this is just plain ridiculous.
‘Locking her up in solitary confinement? Like prison?
‘It’s not acceptable to treat a child like this.’
Mrs Wood claims the school is refusing to let Kadey do work at home, which could mean the parents face court over her absences.
Suzanne Dickinson, head teacher at Meopham School, said: ‘We have extremely high standards at Meopham School.
‘Our uniform policy clearly states that ‘hair must be of natural colour’.’