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Wrexham boy to study at home over haircut

Published date: 08 December 2011 |
Published by: Staff reporter

 

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy is studying from home after his haircut landed him in hot water.


Nathan Ralphs, a pupil at Ysgol Clywedog, is currently studying from home in Primrose Way, Wrexham, while his hair grows back after he had swirls and lines shaved into the back of his head.


Nathan’s mother Sharon Lea said Ysgol Clywedog had objected to the hairstyle.
They offered her two choices – either Nathan works at school but is kept away from other children at breaktime, or he learns at home.


“I was not happy with either, but chose learning at home. Nathan had stars shaved into the back of his head around late August and there were no problems from the school then.


“He had his hair cut with the swirls last week and then Ysgol Clywedog got in contact to say they felt that it was inappropriate. I think it is a terrible situation.


“After all this is only a haircut, Nathan is still the same person and should not be treated in this way. It’s not fair.


“Nathan is well behaved and does well at school.”


Ysgol Clywedog’s headteacher David Kirby said all pupils are expected to attend school dressed appropriately and with appropriate haircuts.


“Those that appear to be inappropriate are challenged and a parent contacted.
“At Clywedog we require pupils with inappropriate hair cuts to attend lessons.

However, they will not be allowed contact with classmates during break and lunchtimes,” added Dr Kirby.


“This solution was offered on this occasion and as far as and we are aware it was declined by the parent in favour of the pupil being kept at home."

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  1. Posted by: Sorpion13 at 09:05 on 08 December 2011 Report

    Rules are rules, Nathan may have had the swirls in late August but were they still clearly visable when school re-opened at the beginning of September? my child attends the same school and i have always found the staff very reasonable and fair.

  2. Posted by: a cahill at 12:08 on 08 December 2011 Report

    Plus the fact that we were asked to sign a home -school agreement which set out expectations on uniform hair and behaviour....Staff are as stated helpful reasonable and fair and willing to engage with parents

  3. Posted by: wemberly at 13:32 on 08 December 2011 Report

    I think that it's just ridiculous, how can a hair cut affect the way a child learns? I understand high school is about preparing a child for adulthood but again I don't understand how anyone can be offended by image or believe the way someone looks can stop them doing their job properly.

  4. Posted by: wemberly at 13:33 on 08 December 2011 Report

    I think that it's just ridiculous, how can a hair cut affect the way a child learns? I understand high school is about preparing a child for adulthood but again I don't understand how anyone can be offended by image or believe the way someone looks can stop them doing their job properly.

  5. Posted by: wemberly at 13:34 on 08 December 2011 Report

    When my brother was in primary school he decided he wanted longer hair but the school decided it was 'inappropriate' so had to cut it all off, yet the boy in the next class was allowed to have a long afro...I really don't think the image matters whatsoever, as long as the child is polite, well mannered and always tries their best. Rant Over.

  6. Posted by: Cassie at 17:00 on 08 December 2011 Report

    Have the staff never heard of the word EQUALITY,it's just a haircut,he still the same person.the teachers should be struck off,talk about knocking a child's confidence.disgusting.

  7. Posted by: sandrobe2001 at 18:09 on 08 December 2011 Report

    High School is a preparation for adulthood and the world of work. Such behaviour by such a school, should be frowned on and the Headteacher's career dealt a blow, as that is precisely what he's doing to this boy. Self confidence is something that should be encouraged all the way through school but this school should be closed, if the Headteacher and his staff discriminate against a child for having a different haircut.

  8. Posted by: tulip70 at 18:15 on 08 December 2011 Report

    nothing was mentions about the teachers not being understanding. i just thought a teacher/ school was to incourage children to learn not treat them like they have done something wrong. i think the right choice was made as the boy would of been made to stay in during school breaks and dinners which is what a child with bad behaviour would of had to do and like i said why should he be treated like that. the child will not want his hair cut again the way this has gone.

  9. Posted by: trixie at 19:16 on 08 December 2011 Report

    1,000 pupils all knowing the dress and behaviour code, one breaks the rules, parents decision to keep child out of school, as for knocking his confidence running to the press leaves him open to even more ridicule, more to the point is if his hair hasn't grown back within four months then running to the doctor may be a far better option

  10. Posted by: liberty1 at 19:40 on 08 December 2011 Report

    Rules are rules, abide by them or suffer the consequences, it's called life, if you don't agree then get the rule changed.

  11. Posted by: Roland Cleth at 08:35 on 09 December 2011 Report

    sandrobe2001 - "High School is a preparation for adulthood and the world of work..." Exactly. Many, if not most, jobs have a dress code that employees are expected to abide by. Just like schools. And his parents aren't doing him any favours by bleating to the local paper.

  12. Posted by: mypoint at 08:51 on 09 December 2011 Report

    How many times have similar stories been in the press.? Schools should be able to set their standards and expect pupils to abide by them. This boy and his parents no doubt were made aware of the dress / appearance expectations and they made a choice not to follow the rules. Parents should be supporting schools. What message is being given to this boy by the parent' not being prepared to accept the school's rules. Comments about dress codes in work are spot on RC.

  13. Posted by: oh dear at 13:43 on 09 December 2011 Report

    what a load of crap..its his hair he can do what he likes with it!!what next,a barber in the school corridor giving everyone short back and sides for all including girls?its called being an individual,freedom of choice,human rights all over

  14. Posted by: Y FFin at 22:57 on 09 December 2011 Report

    It is a lesson for him and his mum that the decisions you make have consequences. Perhaps next time they will think a little harder what the ramifications of their own actions will be ! Meanwhile newspapers should back up the local schools by not giving publicity to the few who seem incapable of keeping to what are very liberal rules.

  15. Posted by: if-you-ask-me at 23:03 on 09 December 2011 Report

    Nice to see some schools are keeping up their standards. Its a thuggy looking style to have swirls in a young pupils hair. Some comments on here are correct,, its preparation for adult hood. EG. you couldn't become a doctor with a tattoo on your forehead. There is a very small minority on here who think he should go to school as he likes. morons !!

  16. Posted by: oh dear at 08:16 on 10 December 2011 Report

    how do swirls make him thuggish?so if he had a grade one all over that makes him a skinhead?lets all look the same and have short back and sides all over..with ears showing..and what tattoos have to do with anything is beyond me

  17. Posted by: if-you-ask-me at 19:43 on 10 December 2011 Report

    OH DEAR.....its all about smartness and standards. The comment about preparation for adult hood is quite right. If you work in an environment that says you don't wear nail varnish...then you don't wear nail varnish, if you go to a school that said no swirls or lines shaved into your head ...then you don't have swirls or lines shaved into your head. simple as that. But you always get rebels who think they can flout it .

  18. Posted by: oh dear at 19:47 on 10 December 2011 Report

    i doubt very much the school rules state no swirls or say to be graded into your hair,its just a haircut and would grow out in a couple of weeks,when i was in school there was girls and boys with mohawks,skinheads,long hair,dreadlocks ..it didnt make them bad kids

  19. Posted by: ericcartman1 at 12:01 on 11 December 2011 Report

    If I went to work with this type of haircut I would be put on a disaplinary with the likehood being that I would have a formal warning. School has rules just like anywhere else. So what if the little chav has been suspended, retarded parents running to the press....

  20. Posted by: a cahill at 12:39 on 11 December 2011 Report

    Observe and support the school behavior and code of conduct...part of the home school agreement signed by pupil parent and school...which includes uniform and appearance expectations...written in plain and easy to understand English...as for aduthood it may come as a surprise that adults are expected to observe various rules at home, work and in society in general

  21. Posted by: if-you-ask-me at 17:44 on 11 December 2011 Report

    The thing is ' oh dear' you clearly went to a band 5 school ! ho ho ho merry christmas

  22. Posted by: oh dear at 08:52 on 12 December 2011 Report

    my god some of the comments on here are dissgusting,you are acting like bullies,calling the little boy a chav,thuggish and calling his parents retards..you should be ashamed of yourselves..bloody keyboard warriors

  23. Posted by: mypoint at 09:24 on 12 December 2011 Report

    Seems the balance of opinion is very much in favour of the school's stance being supported. Good luck to them, good luck to the youngsters who make the most of the opportunities that are being offered by a school committed to maintaining and improving standards and let's hope that those who challenge the knowledge and wisdom of the Head, staff and governors will learn from their experience and have positive futures.

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