12:33pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Kevin Bradford
A SCHOOLBOY was sent home from lessons after teachers said his hair cut was against regulations.
Khalil Francis, who attends The Compton School in Summers Lane, North Finchley, was told he could not attended classes last Thursday and Friday despite having what his mother Samantha Street described as a relatively plain hair cut.
The design under scrutiny involves the hair being cut short over the vast majority of the head, with one thin border line left around the hairline The 13-year-old, who is on the school council and has represented the school at education events across the borough, was shamed by teachers and sent home until the style either grew out or was cut off.
Headteacher Teresa Tunnadine said parents sign an agreement each year on aspects including uniform and behaviour, stating they will make sure their child does not go to school with unusual colouring of hair or extreme styles, including shaved patterns or “sculpting”.
But Ms Street said: “This surely can't be considered an extreme hair cut.
“You get children going to school with long hippy hair which is all messy and that is far more extreme.
“It is a good school academically and quite strict with uniforms, which is good for discipline, but it has got to the point where enough is enough.”
The year 9 pupil, who will be starting GCSE courses next year, said he was gutted to be missing out on lessons that could be important to his options.
He said: “I didn't think it was going to be a big deal.
“I knew if I got a big pattern in my hair I would get told to shave it off or expelled, so I deliberately didn't choose one.
“I was really shocked when the teachers said something about it because it wasn't big and doesn't distract anyone.
“I think because I am seen as a representative for the school they have tried to make an example of me so others don't do it.”
His mother is now considering going to the education authority to complain about the treatment of her son.
She said: “I could get done for Khalil not being in school despite the fact he wants to be there.
“The school knows he is a model pupil. I don't know if they are doing this to prove a point but it hasn't made him feel good about school.
“To make an example of him in this way is not fair, there needs to be a balance.
“There are children out there who don't want to be in school but for the sake of a hair cut, they are not letting a pupil go in who wants to be there.”
Ms Tunnadine, who refused to comment directly to the Times Series, sent a response through Barnet Council to say the school's success, which has seen it rated outstanding by Ofsted in its last three inspections, depends upon pupils observing the uniform regulations and parents working in partnership with the school.
She said: “Individual students will sometimes try to bend the rules on uniform, as students have throughout the ages. But as a school we have a need to ensure our collective standards are upheld.”
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