Teenager banned from lessons over 'extreme' haircut

Many people would think that 15-year-old Billy Davies has a relatively normal haircut for a teenager his age. But staff at Park Community School in Leigh Park, Havant, Hants., have not taken to the style, which is shaved into a V at the back of his head. Officials at the school decided to exclude Billy from all of his lessons until his hair grows back. The youngster now has to do his work in a room by himself during lesson time.

If he needs any help then he has to go and ask a teacher before returning to the room once he has had assistance. The schoolboy has had the same haircut for a year but letters were sent out by the school in September which warned parents it would not tolerate ‘extreme’ hairstyles. But Billy says he never got a copy of the letter and he doesn’t believe his hairstyle is extreme. Billy, who lives with his parents at Cheriton Close, Leigh Park, said: ‘It’s stupid because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my hair.



‘It’s fashionable and a lot of my friends have the same haircut, yet I’m the only one who has been punished. Some of the students even have pink hair. I feel gutted because now I’m not in lessons with my friends and it’s going to be harder to concentrate on my work being sat alone.’ Billy’s mum Jackie Davies said: ‘The school is being pedantic. His hair isn’t extreme at all. I could understand if he was going to school with purple or blue hair but he’s not.’

Headteacher Chris Anders said: ‘We’re an outstanding school and proud of our high standards. Parents are well aware of the uniform policy and support it. It’s always a shame when students do not follow rules but as adults working with children and young people we know it is important to be clear about the consequences of actions and to follow through when rules are broken.’