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School bans pink hair girl
Friday 27th February 2009, 4:15PM GMT.
Lauren Pritchard takes a last look at the red pony tail she's give up in favour of lessons. Picture by Terry Morris
A Shropshire teenager was removed from lessons because she dyed her hair pink.
Lauren Pritchard, 14, was hauled out of class and sent to work on her own after turning up at the Grove School in Market Drayton with the brightly-coloured barnet.
She was told she would not be able to return to her lessons until she had dyed her hair back to an appropriate colour.
Her father today branded the school’s action as “unacceptable”. But the school’s headteacher said rules about appearance were clear.
Lauren’s father Peter Pritchard said: “The school have deemed it necessary to remove her from lessons resulting in her not getting an education until her hair is dyed back or it washes out.
“They call it a dress code issue – well so is the wearing of trainers or the wrong colour trousers but those issues are not treated with the pupil being removed from lessons.”
Mr Pritchard added: “It was half term week last week and Lauren decided she wanted to change the colour of her hair.
“She went back to school on Tuesday and was immediately removed from her class and sent to sit and play on a computer from 9am until noon. I think the school’s behaviour has been totally unacceptable.”
Mr Pritchard said Lauren should have been told to change her hair colour back by the end of the week.
He added: “I don’t understand why the school didn’t have a quiet word with Lauren and give her a letter for my attention explaining the situation.”
Headteacher Jane Radbourne said: “The school is very clear about its standards in terms of uniform, jewellery and excessive hair styles. We are trying to maintain high standards and as far as I am concerned, the matter is now resolved.”
A county council spokeswoman said: “This is a matter for the school, governors and the headteacher to ensure that they are implementing their behavioural policy within the best interests of the school.”
By Deborah Collins
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I wouldn’t of allowed her to dye her hair pink in the first place.
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I agree with the headteacher. The girl would have known when she dyed her hair that it was against school rules and her parents would have known this too! Why are we giving her even more attention?!
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Its only against the rules if the school inform the parents, not every school communicates effectively, having said that, I know that my childrens school would’ve took the same action.
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Whether you agree or not this you have to respect this girls rights:
the right to education
and her rights of freedom of expression as defined under the european convention of human rights.
The head teacher is wrong, they do not have the legal right to impose their definition of normal in regards to her hair style.
Sue!
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Well done the school.
Isn’t the girls father’s response typical.
Perhaps he should b looking in the mirror. Idiot
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Boring!
She looks like a smart kid. What difference to how she works does the colour of her hair make? Successful business people have has all styles and colours of hair. Fancy making such a fuss – she was at school – which is more than a lot of children with short brown hair are…
This is just another example of just how dreary and oppressed we all are in the UK, as long as we continue to crush the spirit our young people they will not learn to be decision makers nor strive to be different.
Are we raising interesting people or dullards?
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Schools are so petty. It’s just self expression. I think her hair looks great. What difference does a hairstyle or colour make to the learning ability of the child? Probably make the child happy and confident? That’s the last thing that schools want, happy and confident children are harder to control and bully, they need to keep children miserable and downtrodden. They need them all to look like facimilies of each other, hence the pointless, yet expensive school uniforms. Children are individuals and should be treated as such.
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You accept the rules when you join the school, end of story… if there was one in the first place?
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Everyone seems to have an opion on what children should and should not wear to school.if it is not the colour of there hair it is there lipstick ,nail varnish or eye shadow.Schools are for learning not a fashion show ,or a catwalk ,or to attract the other sexes attention .get a life ,get a education !!!
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It’s called diversity! perhaps she should say it’s because of a religious belief then get away with anything. What a narrow minded reaction.
Get a grip !!!!
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Well done the Grove school; Following the guidence on what makes secondary schools outstanding (Report by Chief Inspector Chrsitine Gilbert Feb 2009). Discipline has to be fair and consistent across all aspects of school life:all pupils thrive in such environments. All the pupils at that school have been given the guidence of what is acceptable for hair and uniform on their planners and they have agreed to it – this is why the school can enforce a rigorous uniform policy, nothing to do with freedom of expression. If the parents or the pupils disgree with the school’s policy, then they should find another school – that’s freedom of choice.
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its big brother nanny state gone mad this would never have happened under maggie, labour are obsessed with control, like the communists and facists, we must not let labour run education or they will promote socialism in schools and discourage competion.
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Andy needs to grow up!
Of course a school has the right to impose rules and appropriate sanctions. Maybe if some of the parents who have posted comments actually instilled a sense of respect into their children we would be living in a less violent and happier society. I know that hair colour has no impact on educational standards (and it does look nice), but the principle of following rules (like it or not) is a great preparation for life and that is what modern education is about – skills for life. Lauren will have almost seven weeks this summer to have her hair any colour she wishes!
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I agree whole heartedly with Edna, how can colouring your hair prevent you from learing? Next it will be standards of haircut, and measuring how long a kid’s hair gets. Utter poppycock! If she was wearing their correct uniform, and not behaving badly what harm is she doing? People need to learn to chill a bit more, kids are kids…they need to express themselves more.
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@Parent of Teens
“She looks like a smart kid.” Dyed hair is tipical iconography of a reble, and rebles are nuances.
“Successful business people have has all styles and colours of hair.” She’s not a Successful business person. And how many have you met like this? I doubt they had brightly coloured hair when they were 14.
“she was at school – which is more than a lot of children with short brown hair are…” I didn’t know truancy was hair colour related. What a bizarre statment.
“they will not learn to be decision makers nor strive to be different. Are we raising interesting people or dullards?” They can freely express them self when they have the level of maturity to do so. And you can be an interesting person with out trying to connote it via some lazy visual signifier.
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this girl is not smart, she is a follower & seems to be extreaming the hair dying culture! parents should be aware that the toxic chemicals in hair dye entering their children can cause damage to them,get a grip & let children live as children!! these actions are against school policies & procedures & if the parents took time to read these as they should then this idiot wouldn’t be giving his child the “star status that isn’t deserved” i think they are making a rod for their own back & this child will rule their parents instead of finding a compromise between them all! if they want their child to go school they don’t dye their hair…..
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I like it, schools should be more concerned with helping pupils flourish and not critisize the appearance of something that is so petty.
A lot of teenagers have low self esteem and all they want is praise and encouragment…why should we all look the same?
Waste of time and very very petty
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I’m sick of people talking about their rights! FIRST comes their responsibility and until they understand this, then they can forget rights. There are too many feckless parents in this country and standards are in freefall as a result. I’m right behind the schools on this. Girl and father need to grow up! It’s difficult to distinguish between parent and kid here! God help this country. The rest of Europe must be sneering at Britain which allows such idiocy. Schools need supporting to maintain standards in the face of people who stick their fingers up to authority and free education.
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So this is freedom of expression ? Do me a favour folks . What happens if i turn up with facial tattoos , piercings all over my face etc . Stop using “my rights ” as an excuse for doing and behaving in a stupid way . When she leaves school at 16 or 18 she can do what she likes , and can then become a total freak …….so we can all pay her dole because she can’t or won’t get a job as she wants to have a mohawk and metal in her mush . Its okay …..wouldn’t want to infringe on HER rights now would me !? Sheesh !
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Parent of teens: “Successful business people have has all styles and colours of hair. ”
many successful businesspeople get drunk weekly, snort cocaine and have affairs at the office. What on earth has that got to do with a 14 year old schoolgirl??????
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Andy:”Whether you agree or not this you have to respect this girls rights:”
you are a very typical product of modern times, spouting off about rights with absolutely no mention of the corresponding responsibilities.
Why is there a human right act but not a human responsibilities act?
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This level of forced control will only lead to further acts of rebellion it is a genetic fact we are all different hay maybe we can start tying the arm of a child using there left hand behind there back again. this is simply a case of a power mad system designed to favour control freaks i assure you this situation is a joke and to Niall if you wanna cover your face in piercings & tat’s go 4 it but you have no right to refer to ppl who do as total freaks if it makes them happy to do so and dosnt harm anyone then let them be i cant quite understand where this culture that we have to compare ourselves to “the bloke next door” in some attempt to obtain a feeling of success comes from. out of curiosity when are we going to force the kids with bright ginger or blond hare to sort it out before we begin phase 2 and beat any emotion or freedom of speech out of them. i think our teenage pregnancy rate is to blame here yet again as there arnt enough young teachers to oppose the views of old fogies who have clearly forgotten just what it is like to be young
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I don’t think the appearance of a child disrupts children’s learning as badly as poor classroom behaviour, and disrespect to teachers and other pupils. From what I hear from my own daughter (who attends a different school), from teachers and other school staff, this is rife, and has been for many years (yes, even ‘under Maggie’, Tory Boy!) That is where the strict discipline needs to be enforced, but it is not. I think this hair issue is an easy target. If Lauren’s behaviour in class is generally good, then the school’s reaction is unjustified.
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The schools rules are there for all to follow, if you let one do as they wish where will it end. The responSe by the girls father is typical of most, you can see why the girl thinks she is above the school rules with a parent like that. WELL DONE TO THE HEADTEACHER!
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tory boy you are a shame on your party, this girl looks great and i like her hair but the heads decision is not a party political one,
to be fair to labout they put alot of money into schools (see your council tax bill if you dont believe that!) but they could do better, i dont think dress code is anything to do with either parties manifesto though
not everything that is red is bad, her hair for instance is cool
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education under labour has lost its discipline, its too child focused and the kids have too much power and take over, thats why we get youth crime
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Tory boy will try and turn anything into a party political broadcast, its the like of him who will be the downfall of his beloved party.
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What harm was she doing, though? Seriously. What harm was she doing to fellow pupils and teachers?
Another question. Does the school policy have a specific section on “appropriate hair colours”? If so, that is sad beyond reason. That would be almost communist in it’s approach to dictate that – for example – “hair must be of a natural and uniform colour”.
IMHO, this is just another example of hand-wringing sad people inventing rules that pander to what they “feel” is “right and proper” without any consultation whatsoever with those who would be affected by such “rules”
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THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SCHOOL????SHOULD IT NOT BE BEST INTEREST OF ITS PUPILS!!!AN EDUCATION TAKEN AWAY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL SHOWING INDIVIDUALITY,SCHOOL IS ABOUT EDUCATION NOT POWER GAMES.
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I wonder who exactly defined what an “excessive hair style” was and is it written down?
Anyway, it’s a colour not a style (unless the school defined colour within “style” that is).
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she looks grand
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Cannot have our little workers of tomorrow growing up with independent minds. If we are to remove dissent in society, and have people accept the ideas laid down in from of them, then you have squash this individualistic behavior at a young age. There are striking similarities between prison and compulsory schooling; ever wonder why?
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#22 I am actually one of the freaks ! I have tattoos …all with the placing to cover them in the social situation / job situation that would cause offence etc . I went to the Grove as well ! Rules are NOT about oppressing people or taking away their ability to paint their hair pink (pathetic) . A society exists by its ability to accept that certain rules are required to enable its continued existence , whether you like it or not . Your desire to simply counter this is not your RIGHT . To argue that is to say that all rules are an oppression of expression, so my desire to ‘happy slap ‘ you , verbally abuse you etc etc is an infringement on MY rights ! There was a day when simple common sense ruled … where did it go ?
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when schools have a rigid form of discipline, when teachers dress in business clothes, when school rules are obediently followed and when the head is allowed the luxury of the slipper or cane in extreme circumstances, we may see a return to respect in the class room and a better society to live in. i do not want to sound like tory boy, but 40 years of do gooders, liberals and lax principles has ruined this country and given us too soft an underbelly,
if red hilights is against the rules, expell the culprit until rectified
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Two replies:
No 13:Wemian, I dont think I need to grow up. I think that the headteacher should. What is wrong with this hair colour? Give me one hard fact that would stand up in a court of law to support your case. This girl is allowed to wear her hair how she likes… If she wants to shave it off this petty regime would send her home… oh no, cant do that without upsetting the krishnas… Just what is the difference here? I think you ought to think before spouting off…
and 21: marco. Yes, you are a clever boy, listening to question time, but here is a piece of advice: dont repeat, parrot fashion, soundbites that you like the sound of without being able to back up your opinions in debate. This is a schoolgirl, so has no responsibilities… using your argument then no one would have any rights until they were 18, are you really suggesting that? (No right to education/medicine/social support/housing?)
And lets just remember that as so many have commented on, once this freedom, (of expression), is gone just where does it stop? what clothes we wear? what music we listen to? who we vote for?
Freedoms are wonderful things. The school’s job is to teach, not indoctrinate. We continue to see them eroded and that not only saddens me but I am sure has many thousands of people turning in their graves having sacrificed so much to preserve them.
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I can’t help thinking that kids are better expressing themselves at this age. To ban her from classes makes no sense. detention would be more effective, made to pick up litter at lunch time may be? Still it doesn’t seem fair that chav kids can express themselves through wearing rockport shoes to school and wearing hair products, but this girl who is basically doing the same gets punished. Surely ALL hairdye should be banned.
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Oh dear Tory troll_boy has opened his mouth before thinking again, in the 1980s the Tories banned lots of things happily. They set everyone against each other and what about your mad old Migrain’s “no such thing as society”.
Kids at my school then got banned for having hair dye – even if it was food colouring some of the time..
I think he just pastes in the same rant every time. Mindless answers irrelevant to any comtemporary discussion (though, I thought thats normal for Tories?).
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Well done to the Grove in standing to its policy. The parents know the score so why do they flaunt the rules.
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her hair looks terrible and rules are there for a reason, next story please……….
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Well done to the Headteacher.
Set a standard and maintain it – if people don’t like it – TOUGH
As for Andy and his human rights nonsense – this is the very reason that society is as it is – severely broken.
Everyone wants their rights but many do not want their responsibilities – that is why the liberal schools FAIL our children miserably and why those children cannot get jobs.
Wake up and smell the coffee people, or do you like the lawless and uncaring society in which we live!!
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Pathetic action by the school. Is this school so expertly run that they have nothing better to do? It shows some individuality and independence by the girl – isn’t that what education and growing up is all about?
i was expecting her hair to be bright pink or something, but its hardly noticeable.
If she was my daughter I would be proud of her, and I’m 50 years old.
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36. Andy: “This is a schoolgirl, so has no responsibilities”
You are saying that nobody has any responsibilities until they are 18!
To be clear, I am saying that there is no right without a corresponding responsibility, no matter what the age. (making allowances for mental capacity and ability). For example a young child has a right to a clean home – well then they have a responsibility to put away their toys as soon as they have the mental and physical capacity to do so… this can and should start at a very young age.
A student at school most definitely does have responsibilities, I am flabbergasted that anyone would believe otherwise. (To get you thinking in the right directing think about their responsibilities to their fellow students, their teachers and to themselves.)
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE WORLD DO NOT WHAT UNTIL SOMEONE IS 18 BEFORE GIVING THEM ANY RESPONSIBILITIES!
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Marco,
Abd just how is it irresponsible to dye one’s hair? Who defines what is a “responsible” hairstyle or colour? I’m afraid this is a personal preference… I might not like brunettes, doesnt mean I am going to require everyone to be blonde… I think that was tried once before…
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Andy said “Who defines what is a “responsible” hairstyle or colour?” well in this case its the head teacher, her school her rules. If they don’t like it move the child to another school with lower standards. And incidentally I can’t believe you played the Nazi card.
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To be fair to the girl’s father, his objection was not to the rule being ultimately enforced but to the manner in which it was done. He expressed willing to comply with the rules but regret that the school handled the matter so heavy-handedly. His daughter was humiliatingly excluded from class and forced to spend an entire morning playing on her own without lessons, to the detriment of both her education and her sense of social inclusion. Yes, perhaps the rules were there already when his daughter joined the school, and he can apply to send her to another school if he is not happy with them, but school authorities should really learn to distinguish between a pure cosmetic deviation from the letter of the school rules and truly problematical bad behaviour, and address the first in a mild and proportionate way compared with the second.
I was at school in Shropshire from 1979 to 1992 (during which years there was a Tory government in continuous rule) and found the petty rules relating to clothes, shoes, compulsory participation in certain sports, and where you were or were not allowed to walk oppressively over-emphasised at the expense of making sure that children learned to treat each other and adults with respect and decency. I think this is a long-standing tradition in British educational culture that is completely apolitical.
Regarding the rights versus responsibilities issue, I wholly agree with Andy that this has become a clichéd soundbite and would wish to add that can easily be used as a propagandist slogan the essence of which is to excuse unreasaonable restrictions of rights. In this case, the girl’s right to an education and to respectful social inclusion is arguably much more important than her responsibility to comply immediately with a purely cosmetic school rule. If she had been persistently verbally or physically abusing her classmates it would be a different matter.
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I’m afraid the headteacher does not have that power. In fact it is outrageous to suggest she does. Catholic schools cannot define what is a responsible religion for their pupils and this headteacher cannot define what is an acceptible hairstyle, it is just not up to her.
And I only commented on similarities between what some people are saying and history – I didnt have to say it because, having stated the similarities everyone knows exactly where this leads. (I am not for one moment accusing the headteacher of anything other than ignorance of the limitations of her powers).
The head teacher should back off, and if she loses the respect of the pupils for her climb down then she should step down as she has quite frankly shown herself up.
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Well done the Grove.
She broke the rules. End of Story
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it is up to the girl if she want her hair pink I think that the headteacher should grow up. What is wrong with this hair colour? This girl is allowed to wear her hair how she likes
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