Free school suspends boy, 11, over haircut that's 3mm too short

A boy has been excluded from lessons over his haircut at a flagship free school which has pledged to be tough on discipline. Kai Frizzle, 11, was sent home from the West London Free School in Hammersmith on Monday after going in with hair 3mm too short. He was taught in isolation the following day.

Kai's mother Tania Scott said the school's response to her son's Barack Obama-style cut was disproportionate, and claimed another pupil was chosen to be photographed representing the school with the same hairstyle. Ms Scott, from Hammersmith, said: "His haircut is the same as Barack Obama's and Lewis Hamilton's. He has had the same style since he was five. I am so upset... I am thinking of taking him out of the school."



She kept Kai, who is in the rugby team and is vice-president of the school council, at home on Wednesday and the school broke up for half term yesterday. She said he was segregated from other children despite her promising he would never have the same style again. School rules state boys' hair must be no shorter than a grade two cut, and must be no longer than collar length. Ms Scott said her son's hair is grade 1.5 around the sides and a grade 2 on top.

She said: "His hair doesn't look as smart if it's longer. He plays sport five times a week and he doesn't feel hygienic if it's longer." Headteacher Thomas Packer said it may sound "trivial" but the school has to crack down on hairstyles and uniforms to send a message about discipline to other pupils. "If I didn't apply the code consistently it breeds bullying and unpleasantness," he said. Ms Scott said: "I understand what the headteacher is saying, but it's not like Kai has patterns or anything really outlandish."