Boy, 14, is banned from classroom by school after his mother gives him ultra-short skinhead haircut 

  • Joshua Crossman was put in isolation at Budehaven Community School
  • Teachers described his fresh, closely-cropped haircut as 'inappropriate' 
  • He had wanted skinhead haircut because he was 'too hot' during summer 
  • His mother, Claire, described the school's conduct as 'almost like bullying' 

By Thomas Burrows for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A 14-year-old boy was banned from the classroom after he was given an 'inappropriate' shaven haircut by his mother. 

Joshua Crossman was put in isolation after teachers at Budehaven Community School, in Bute, objected to the way his mother, Claire, had cut his hair.

He had wanted the skinhead haircut because he was 'too hot' during the summer months with longer hair.

Following the school's bizarre decision to send him home, Ms Crossman described their conduct as 'almost like bullying'.

Joshua Crossman was put in isolation after teachers objected to his skinhead hair cut by his mother, Claire

Joshua Crossman was put in isolation after teachers objected to his skinhead hair cut by his mother, Claire

Joshua had his hair shaven over the weekend but when he arrived in the classroom on Monday morning, he was put in isolation. 

When the school telephoned his mother to explain what they had done, she said her son should not be treated differently to other pupils. 

She also pointed out how some teachers had closely-cropped hair and said they had 'really overstepped the mark'. 

She said: 'I don't know when he will be going back to school. That depends on them. He's not a skin-head and he's not trying to make any statement. It's just an old fashioned close-crop haircut. 

'It's quite wrong for the school to embarrass him like this. It's almost like bullying.'

She added: 'Joshua is a good lad and had not the slightest intention of causing any trouble.  

'It's not as if he's dyed his hair bright pink or anything like that, and it's not a symbol of belonging to any kind of organisation or group. It's just short hair.

'There are some pupils at the school with dreadlocks and that's considered OK.

'Not long ago it was quite common to see youngsters with short hair like this. I really don't see what the problem is.'

Joshua had his haircut because he was 'too hot' in the summer months - but he was put in isolation at school
Joshua had his haircut because he was 'too hot' in the summer months - but he was put in isolation at school

Joshua had his haircut because he was 'too hot' in the summer months - but he was put in isolation at school

Joshua was put in isolation at Budehaven Community School (pictured) in what their headteacher described as being a 'misunderstanding' 

Joshua was put in isolation at Budehaven Community School (pictured) in what their headteacher described as being a 'misunderstanding' 

Although the school has a uniform policy, it does not say anything about haircuts. 

In the advice issued to headteachers last January, the Department for Education said isolation should only be used for disruptive pupils.  

Budehaven School headteacher David Barton said he was off site when the incident occurred and described it as a 'misunderstanding'.

He said: 'I hope that Joshua is back in school (soon), and in class with his friends.

'It might be that Joshua's hair is a bit shorter than we would like, but it's probably not extreme and there may have been a bit of a misunderstanding between the school and his Mum.

'Our uniform policy doesn't mention hair, and maybe in future it should.

'This incident will probably prompt us to take another look at that aspect of the uniform policy.

'It wasn't our decision that Joshua should have not been at school (on Monday).'

 

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