Ringwood School bans girl from lessons for having red hair

2:44pm Thursday 17th January 2013 in Education Photograph of the Author By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter

Alisha Kay-Tyler, who was banned from lessons at Ringwood School because of her dyed red hair Alisha Kay-Tyler, who was banned from lessons at Ringwood School because of her dyed red hair

A SECOND mum has criticised a Hampshire school after her daughter was placed in isolation – for having her hair dyed dark red.

Alisha Kay-Tyler was taken out of classes at Ringwood School today after turning up with her new haircut.

The 13-year-old’s furious mum, Sarah Kay, accused the school of “over-reacting” because her daughter had been told the “unnatural” hair colour would distract other pupils.

It comes just days after the Daily Echo reported how Year 8 pupil Billie Halford was taken out of the same school temporarily by her mum after she was placed in isolation because of hair pink dip dye hairstyle.

Bosses at the Parsonage Barn Lane school say there are strict policies in place over youngsters’ appearance, which all parents sign up to when they send their children there.

Sarah, from Poulner, said she had only allowed Alisha to have her hair dyed once she was satisfied it would not be an outlandish colour.

She told the Daily Echo: “If it was up to Alisha I can guarantee that her hair would be dip-died pink too, but I know that’s unacceptable.

“It’s not really an unnatural colour. It’s quite dark and it’s quite nice. Her natural colour has a lot of red in it anyway.

“If it was bright pink or blue or orange then that’s fair enough, but it’s in no means offensive – I think that’s the word they used.

“They’ve just taken it way too far.”

Sarah said she has now had to take Alisha, a Year 9 pupil, back to the salon where her hair had been dyed to have it coloured again, this time a dark brown, costing £40.

She said: “I don’t agree that she should have it done again, especially within 24 hours because that’s not good for her hair, but I’m doing it because she will miss school.

“She was going to be in isolation until it’s gone and I think that’s disgusting. That’s for children who have been naughty.

“I would have made a stand against this but the whole time she would be missing out on school. But I’m going to be writing to the school and speaking to the head teacher.”

Ringwood’s head, Chris Edwards was not immediately available for comment this afternoon.

But in response to the earlier row over Billie’s hair, she said: “At Ringwood School we have very clear rules with regard to appearance and uniform which parents agree to when they send their child to the school.

“Our rules state that hair should be traditionally styled – extremes of fashion such as shaved hair, beads, braids, unnatural tints, dyes and highlights are not acceptable.

“If a student arrives at school with inappropriate uniform or appearance arrangements are made to continue with learning in isolation while contact is made with parents to arrange to resolve the problem.”

Comments(17)

Lockssmart says...
3:00pm Thu 17 Jan 13

I'm so glad I'm bald.

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dly397 says...
3:51pm Thu 17 Jan 13

For goodness sake! What is it about hair colour? Why not just leave it as it was originally intended until after you leave school.

You'd have thought after the hullaballoo earlier in the week that ANY parent would refuse to let their offspring colour their hair.

To any other stupid parents out there - if you really must allow your offspring to colour their hair, try asking the school if the intended hair colour is acceptable BEFORE it is done.

Rocket science it really isn't!!!

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Uberarticuno says...
3:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Either the mother and/or daughter saw the news article about the first girl and wanted their own 15 minutes of fame or this mother is just as immature and idiotic as the first.

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Ford Prefect says...
3:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Schools have rules. You sign up to these when you send your child there.

If you don't think they are reasonable, discuss it with the headteacher or governing body.

I can't see how it benefits your child to discuss it instead in the local newspaper.

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sparkster says...
4:02pm Thu 17 Jan 13

exactly if girls want to dye their hair why not do it in the 6 week summer holidays it'll have grown out before they go back to school. Rules are rules and they're in place for a reason

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Rockhopper says...
4:23pm Thu 17 Jan 13

School is an educational learning establishment and not a fashion show.
It is right pupils should be excluded if they disobey appearance policies eg. uniform/make-up/hair
care.
Surely any sensible parent would want their child to adhere to school rules?
If not they are not setting a good example.

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Skay2406 says...
4:35pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Ok I will clear this up and no I did not want fame but actually was disgusted that my daughter was treated like a criminal because she had saved her own money to colour her hair at a salon so that she had a more natural colour than the home hair colours give. I totally agree that if students colour their hair in bright colours then that is unacceptable and yes I do as a responsible parent adhere to the rules, but her hair is a dark red in which about 50% of the students at her school have the same or very similar colours so that is what I am furious about. She has been picked out and made to feel like she has commited a crime and has really upset her.

Last term my mother went into the school to do a talk to the students and the teacher had pink streaks in her hair so how is that acceptable!!!

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SaffaInTheUk says...
4:47pm Thu 17 Jan 13

No shaved head? I wonder if a student has chemo, has their hair fall out but refuses to wear a wig, will they put that student in isolation?

I had blonde highlights, nothing extreme mind you, in school and that didn't distract my classmates. Then again, in St Annes they don't care what you do.

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Ford Prefect says...
4:47pm Thu 17 Jan 13

The difference is that they are teachers and adults. Your daughter is a student and a child. Teachers will also be required to be professionally dressed but do not have to wear uniforms. Your daughter does.

It's easy to pick off items on a school uniform list and say "Oh, those trainers are very nearly black shoes", "Those earrings are only a little bigger than the school permits" and "Well her hair is very nearly a normal colour".

My basic point, though, is why aren't you discussing this with the headteacher or chair of governors if you feel so strongly? Don't you think that running to the Echo undermines you in your desire to make a reasonable point?

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Skay2406 says...
4:56pm Thu 17 Jan 13

I am and her hair is a very normal colour thank you very much. If you are a teacher working at a school with rules then I'm sorry but you should not go into school with pink hair as that is highly unprofessional for an adult anyway.

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Funrun says...
5:20pm Thu 17 Jan 13

This is why this country is now over run with chavy children.

Parents with lack of respect for authority that think setting a example is trying to undermine everyone that dares to do whats right for the majority.

No doubt the same parents that encourage getting pregnant to get a free house. Use the system for there own benift but dont want to respect the rules of the land when it does not suit them!!

Makes me so angrrrryyyyy!!

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business-guru says...
5:39pm Thu 17 Jan 13

another chav story... move along, nothing to see here....

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The Watcher says...
6:34pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Her mother should be ashamed of the terrible example she is setting for her child.
.
The School's rules are quite clear and are quite rightly not up for negotiation. Well done to the Headmaster for sticking to his guns.
.
The school rules are not a menu from which you pick and choose.
.
Well done to The Echo for highlighting just how poorly some parents dispense their duties and the lack of support our schools and teachers receive.

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Scuba2000 says...
6:35pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Come on Echo - have you nothing better to report on? We are lucky to have a good school in Ringwood - lets keep it so!

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Rockhopper says...
7:15pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Surely now the girl has her picture and story in the Daily Echo & Website the potential to be identified and 'picked out' has increased by millions!
A better solution if you are unhappy with the schools decision is to take this matter up with the Local Education Authority.

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Olivia Lenton says...
7:38pm Thu 17 Jan 13

This is so pathetic, girls should be aloud to dye their hair dark red it is a very natural hair colour and cannot be a distract to any other students considering students already have this hair colour.

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forest tony says...
2:20pm Fri 18 Jan 13

There are so many inane rules that our youth are becoming more and more immature when they leave school, I thought part of growing up was to express yourself and to learn by your mistakes, from the time when ancient Britons wore woad, through, zoot suits, drapes, quiffs and mohicans its all part of self expression, part of growing up, never judge a person, even a young person by the way they dress or look, school rules certainly seems to stop self expression an essential part of being part of society! By saying this, commonsense is needed but this young lady looks no different to so many in the street of all ages and certainly would not distract other pupils in class, normal looking person to most.....probably more a case of discrimination for some unknown reason!

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