My son MUST have HAIR CUT for secondary school!

It's the rule at our school and we had a group of boys in a band that played Download during their GCSEs whilst having short hair (two left for A levels so they could do their own thing more). We are a traditional boys grammar. I am not allowed to dye my hair the colour I want or have the piercings and tattoos I'd like. None of these rules are secrets.

and long blonde hair barf

like the women who go on about their sons curls ( ratty horrible hair ime)

uniform doesn't affect results
but kids learn that in life you have to do what you are bloody told sometimes
Interesting how the kids who are wankers ( normally with parents support) about uniform manage to dress VERY conservatively when they get a Saturday job with uniform restrictions

OP this is blatant discrimination

what is the hair rule for girls?

Also I think the Sikh case will be relevant. If it's a boys only school then any Sikh boys will have topknot or turban, your son should be allowed the same. But in general it's a crazy rule.

Schools appear to need reminding what century we are in.

Why should little boys go round looking like little girls? Life is confusing enough as it is.

Oh, FFS, men have had long hair at least since the 1960s, to say nothing of the wigs etc worn up to the 19th century. I refuse to believe that anyone seriously looked at the Beatles or the Stones and thought "They've got long hair, they must be women."

Can anyone explain the thinking behind rules about hair? I get that it's intimidating to be sitting beside someone with, eg, a swastika shaved on to their head but how is any particular length, colour or style relevant to the school?

I wouldn't like to be too confident about succeeding with a sex discrimination argument. Have a look at paragraphs 52 to 61 of this case.

DS2 (16) is a metal head. His hair is down to his waist and yes he's in a metal band. He passed 9 GSCEs this morning. The only issues he's had in the past was to tie it up for triple science, no big deal.

He also had a very distinctive art style and was told over and over again that he wasn't following their rules of art. He passed Art too. I don't get all this putting children in boxes rubbish. They're not allowed to think for themselves.

It's school not the military, why can't the lad have long hair? It's a rule, but it's a pointless one that should be challenged if it is not the same for girls.

Its not sexism to have a rule that they should have it cut to X length.

It is if the girls are allowed to have theirs longer

At my DS's school, they boys just need to tie it back, the same as the girls.

Dd2 is starting a new school in September and we were brought into an information evening. The HT is s really lovely and generally laid back guy and he runs an excellent school. However at least 20 minutes of the 40 minute meeting was discussing boys haircuts. It is obviously a bugbear of his but really how it affects the boy's learning is a mystery to me. I teach adults, if they are lucky enough to still have hair they wear it whichever way they choose. Seems sensible to me.

Hmm sex discrimination is not a minor thing though is it? It is the cause of many inequalities and evils in the world.

I would speak to my MP if they were likely to be sympathetic. Two of my DS's mates had very long hair through high school. They tied it back and it was never an issue.

My own DS2(10) has always had long hair. There have been a couple of decrees about hair cutting over the years which we have (basically) just ignored. Not sure what we would do if it was an issue for him at high school.

Schools do my head in. The 'good' ones brag about their amazing results - tutors and supportive parents have nothing to do with it of course- . I know that teaching is a difficult job. But this horrible attitude so many schools seem to have of, 'Remember how lucky you are to have a place here and don't ever breach any of our petty rules or you're out' is awful IMO. Teachers are paid to teach. End of.

There's no evidence that wearing school uniform or adhering to strict hair/jewellery codes has a beneficial effect on learning.

There was a thread recently from a mum whose DS had his hair cut shorter (on the sides) than he wanted and was suspended from school until his hair grew back. So his hair was too short. OP's DS' hair is too long......

Really?

Does the OP know that that is the case? I cant see that stipulated in the OP at all. So perhaps there is a rule that girls need to have their hair tied up if longer than shoulder length.

Its not sexism to have a rule that they should have it cut to X length. Whilst it's unfortunate, he needs to get used to rules. Otherwise the rest of his life will be a big shock.

God, Usernumber's post is almost as ridiculous as confusionis' post.

Is it the heat or something?

I'm all for uniforms but as long as his hair is clean and tidy and doesn't flip in his eyes and can be tied back then I think they're being ridiculous.

OP

What do the school rules say on girls' hair, if not a single sex school?

Bring back grammar schools and instill some proper discipline. We don't want to create a generation of long haired entitled snowflakes.

I'd ask if he could tie it up? Man buns are now a thing.

And long hair on a man does not equal = girl/transgender when I have a Pixy cut I'm not a male/transgender. I'm a woman with short hair FFS!

It's a very sensible rule. Why should little boys go round looking like little girls? Life is confusing enough as it is.

Bore off

People 'scream' (they actually just point it out) sexual discrimination because it is sexual discrimination if the same rules don't apply to girls with long hair. Obvious enough, i would have thought.

I bet the HT is a fuddy-duddy with thin hair who's jealous of anyone with long lustrous locks.

It's too easy for people to say he should get a haircut or choose a different school.

If this school is not an all boys school (I know the OP hasn't clarified) and girls are allowed their hair long but boys are not, then that's discrimination.

I think discrimination should be challenged, rather than people avoiding the confrontation and just letting it continue.

I am always surprised by these 'follow the rules' replies. Comply, comply, don't question. Disrupt the kid's schooling by changing schools and leaving mates behind, home-school, as if that is such an easy option. It's hair, it shouldn't be such a big deal. Similar to girls in trousers, I mean honestly, why should it only be a medical or religious exception? Especially in state schools of course but seeing as most schools are academies now it seems even harder to challenge these random rules.