Parents full of support for lockdown two-tone hair pupil
TEEN WAS SENT INTO ISOLATION ON HIS FIRST DAY BACK
PARENTS have shown overwhelming support for the family of a student who was sent into isolation on his first day back at school for his lockdown hair. Humberston Academy said parents had known for two weeks that schools were reopening on Monday and were expected to meet the dress code and hair style rules.
But with barbers closed due to the lockdown, Gemma Leaning was unable to take her son, Jacob LeeStokes, for a haircut and to rectify his home hair dye job.
The promising 15-year-old art and fashion design student, had dyed his hair blue and pink during lockdown before washing it out and colouring his naturally ginger locks, blonde. But on his return to school on Monday he was placed in isolation for the whole day, missing break and lunch times because of his two-tone colour.
Parents expressed support for the family’s difficulty in conforming to the school’s rules and posted messages on Grimsby Live’s Facebook page.
They highlighted other schools where leaders had insisted on the proper dress code even though hair salons, uniform shops and shoe shops are closed due to lockdown. Tony Patrick said: “Look at Boris Johnson’s hair - and he runs the country.”
In support Shell Greaves posted: “Surely the schools should spend more time concentrating on getting the kids back in and learning than worrying about hair colour or even uniform for now given how long the kids have been off.”
Michael Young-Waddingham said: “At 15 a child is finding themselves and becoming who they are as a person. What if he likes his hair? He should be able to express himself how he wants.”
Linda Parker said: “What impact does hair, wrong shoes or lack of full uniform have on the child’s ability to learn? All schools should be more concerned on how the children coped through lockdown. Their mental health comes first, then catching up on lessons.” Louise Collier posted: “A pupil’s dyed hair or not having the correct uniform is no reason to isolate them. These kids have been through enough! Schools should be supporting the kids not giving them more stress.”
Jacob’s mum, Gemma, previously told Grimsby Telegraph: “After all the weeks of home learning and he goes off to school for 8.20am and then I get a call at 9.15am on the first day to say he is in isolation for the whole day, is outrageous.
“I understand the school policy and would normally have taken him to the hairdressers but no one has that option during lockdown.
In their statement the school said “Whilst we have high expectations when it comes to uniform, we are also empathetic – so for instance, if a student comes into school without the right uniform, we are able to provide spare items for them to wear. “We also have clear expectations of appropriate hair styles, including hair dye. Whilst it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to provide details on individual cases, parents and students have known for some time now that the first day back at school was March 8, and we expected families to take appropriate steps meeting our existing policies for a smooth return back to school.”