A five-year-old schoolboy was banned from the playground at break times due to his ‘extreme’ skin-fade hairstyle.
Josiah Sharpe was told he couldn’t go out and play at Summerhill Primary Academy in Tipton because the back and sides of his hair were shaved.
His mother, Danica Sharpe, said the ‘skin-fade style’ haircut helped hide his traction alopecia and gave him a ‘smart, tidy appearance’.
Josiah Sharpe was told he couldn’t go out and play at Summerhill Primary Academy in Tipton because the back and sides of his hair were shaved
But Kerry Rochester, the executive head of his school, said the youngster’s haircut went against school policy – which states pupils must not have ‘hairstyles that will detract from learning’.
Guidelines also specify that cuts which fall below a grade two length are strictly forbidden.
Josiah lost his playtime until his hair grew back to a length deemed satisfactory by the school.
But his mother has now hit out at the ‘harsh’ treatment of her son – adding that the police was ‘culturally biased’ and ‘dictating a hairstyle that’s not suitable’ for her son.
Ms Sharpe, a hair stylist, said: ‘The hair policy lacks cultural awareness as a grade two haircut is not fair for Josiah’s type of hair and others from different racial backgrounds.
‘When he first started there, I did try a grade two haircut but within three days, it had started to grow out and it looked a total mess.
His mother, Danica Sharpe, said the ‘skin-fade style’ haircut helped hide his traction alopecia and gave him a ‘smart, tidy appearance’
‘In the Afro-Caribbean community, if a boy’s hair is not long and plaited, or put in dreadlocks, we are expected to cut the hair very short for a smart tidy appearance.
‘It’s not a fashion statement, in our culture hair at a grade two or three is regarded out grown and untidy for a curly/coiled hair type.’
Ms Sharpe said Josiah has had the same haircut since he was one – and it had only been commented on once before at school.
Kerry Rochester, the executive head of the school, said the youngster’s haircut went against school policy – which states pupils must not have ‘hairstyles that will detract from learning’
She said: ‘He’s been having this haircut since he was one. The only time the school had said anything about it previously was when he was in reception and he had a patch on the back of his head. It wasn’t there intentionally, it was because he’d moved while at the barbers.
‘I’ve explained it all to Josiah but he’s confused about why he’s being singled out. I’ve told him he can grow his hair out and put it in plaits but he wants to keep it how it is.’
Ms Rochester said the school’s uniform and presentation policy was ‘inclusive for all children’ at the school.
Josiah lost his playtime until his hair grew back to a length deemed satisfactory by the school
She said: ‘The policy states “shaved heads or hairstyles that are deemed by the school to be extreme, are not acceptable” and “hair should be no shorter than ‘number two’ length.”
‘Unfortunately, Josiah’s hair has been styled in line with what we understand to be the ‘skin fade’ style. His hair is tapered around the back and sides to what is known as ‘zero fade’ or ‘bald fade’.
‘Therefore, the manner in which Josiah’s hair is styled, falls below the grade two length as set out in our policy.
‘The school has tried to work with the family to fully explain the school rules to date and why the style is deemed to be extreme.’
Ms Rochester said the school consulted Afro Caribbean hairdressers in order to reach the decisions made.
‘The family has had, in accordance with the school’s complaints policy, opportunities to state their concerns, both in writing and via a meeting,’ she said.
‘Responses have been provided to the family at each stage of the complaints process, and it’s unfortunate the family have taken this approach before the internal processes have been exhausted.
‘The school has no record of any medical conditions the child suffers from, on medical forms provided by the parents, however as with other children in our school.
‘When presented with medical information we are more than happy to work with parents to discuss amendments to policy, if this is deemed necessary and appropriate.
‘We take our school policies and rules extremely seriously and impress the importance of both within our school community.
‘Unfortunately, if the family continue to ignore the school rules then appropriate sanctions have to be made.
‘Failure to implement the rules would be deemed unfair by the vast majority of parents and children who adhere to the school policy.’
Mother removes her two sons from school after they are put in isolation for their ‘normal’ hairstyles and refuses to get it cut because ‘it’s against their human rights’
An angry mother has taken her two children out of school after they were kept in isolation because of their ‘extreme’ haircuts.
Leroy Wilson, 13, and his younger brother TJ Wilson, 11, were taken away from the rest of their classmates at Kingswood Academy in Hull on Tuesday.
Their mother, Terri Lea Wilson, was told both boys needed to have their hair restyled – but she claimed it would be against their human rights if she forced them to have it re-cut.
Leroy Wilson, 13, and his younger brother TJ Wilson, 11, were taken away from the rest of their classmates at Kingswood Academy on Tuesday for their haircuts
But the 30-year-old mother sent her children back to school the following day with no changes to their hair and they were put back in isolation again, which resulted in Ms Wilson pulling both of the children out of school.
The mother-of-six, who lives in Hull, said: ‘It’s a normal hairstyle for boys but the school said they need to get their hair cut if they want to come back to school or else they will stay in consequences.’
She added: ‘It’s just wrong. They boys are not happy and have said they won’t get it cut. I can’t force them to, especially Leroy – he is 13 years old.
‘I can’t say to them to just go and get it cut because it’s against their human rights and a lot of parents are kicking off.
‘Until they get it cut they are not allowed to go back. I work full-time, I’ve got a day job as a care worker and a night job as cleaner so I can’t really do anything with them.
‘It’s disgusting. It’s a hairstyle and it’s nothing big or major. I wouldn’t like anyone telling you have got to get your hair cut. Why should I? They have no right to do that.
‘It’s a great school, they’ve got great policies and they are strict with the kids but this is just a bit over the top.’
The mother is adamant that her children should not be made to have their haircut again.
Leroy’s hair is brushed to the side with a quiff while TJ’s is short on the sides with a line in it.
Terri Lea Wilson (centre) with her sons TJ Wilson (left) and Leroy Wilson (right)
Ms Wilson added: ‘My husband went to the headteacher and he said, “How can I drag a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old when they are going to fight with me and refuse? I’m going to get locked up, I just can’t”.
‘It’s ridiculous and cruel.’
TJ said: ‘We should be able to have our own haircuts.’
A spokesman for Kingswood Academy school said: ‘We at the academy have the highest of expectations regarding uniform – including hairstyles – which have been in place for the last three years.
‘These expectations are made very clear in the uniform policy which is shared with parents and students annually, and is also displayed on the website.
‘Any student who fails to meet the standard is allowed to go home to rectify the issue, if not they are placed in isolation.
‘Out of the 804 students on roll, 801 students regularly meet the expectations consistently, lesson in, lesson out.
‘In February 2018, Kingswood Academy was judged to be Good in all categories and Ofsted commented specifically on how proud students were of their school and their uniform, which they wear with pride.’