Pupils being told long hair must be tied back - reasonable or not?

YABU totally reasonable rule

our school had this rule back in the 80s and 90s. anyone who has worked in a secondary school will know some of the girls spend an enormous amount of time preening themselves and twiddling their hair in class. If it is tied up then this reduces distraction as well as prevent headlice spread

Head lice epidemic. Hair pulled back is mandatory at both DCs schools - all boys and an all girls school. If you’ve never had head lice in your house then i can understand why you’d think this rule is unnecessary. We’ve had it twice and i wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

It's a very sensible rule!

Woodlands are you sure it would cause uproar? After all many of them will have been to schools with this quote normal rule.

I taught in a rather nice girls grammar woth this rule. It really is quite common!

Ooops, that’s about secondary school. I was talking about primary regarding food in hair

I am always surprised round here that it isn't a rule.
When I was at school, even the grotty ones which never worried about how uniforms looked had the rule of hair tied back. Round here we have schools that will send boys home for having the wrong number of pleats in the trousers, but all the girls have loose hair.

I think it's a sensible rule.

I work in an outstanding large academy in a very nice area. If we tried to bring this in it would cause uproar with the student and the parents.
Students tie back hair for PE, DT and Science experiments. Nothing else. I've never worked in a secondary with such a rule. Not saying I disagree - hair drama is very annoying. Just unsure how it could be implemented smoothly.

Head lice will be the main one. DD got them just after starting at secondary school and helpfully gave them to me too . Now her hair is always tied back neatly.

And yes it's reasonable. I reckon it should almost be made part of their 'uniform'. Pupils are at school to learn not to be swishing their lustrous (and potentially lice-ridden) locks around in a Timotei advert type of way!

My DD has to have hair tied back, I don't think it's a big deal. It's easier just to get it out of the way. It's definitely not a rule worth challenging even if you don't like it.

Maybe they've had problems with people not tying it back when they were supposed to for safety or hygiene reasons so it's easier to have an 'always tied back' policy to make life easier.

I thought all schools had this rule!

Both my primary and secondary had this rule. I thought it was the norm.

Completely reasonable rule.

Apparently, there has been an increase in headlice among teenagers due to the selfie culture (girls putting their heads close and flopping their hair about). I think schools are sensible to try and do what they can to mitigate the risk.

Provided the rules are equally enforced for both sexes, I think it's a good idea. I'm always surprised when I see girls with long hair wafting about all over the place.

In our high school we had to have it tied back for: PE; all science classes; technical studies; Home ec and art.

Most of us kept it tied back all the time, easier than putting it up and down.

There are lots of fantastic braids and styles on YouTube she doesn’t have to stick with a plain pony tail if she doesn’t want to.

YABU. The rule applies to both genders for reasons of safety and cleanliness. I don't see why anyone would object? I thought most parents would ensure hair was tied up even without the rule.

My DS has to tie his hair back, we are fine with it. Have to have same rule for all.

Totally reasonable rule, you’re being ridiculous

I bet it is because those with long hair (boys and girls) flick it all the time, toss their heads, fiddle with it in lessons, let it fall over their face while they roll their eyes or whisper etc.

I don’t blame the school one bit.

Having set fire to my flowing locks in science at high school I feel confident in saying YABVU. I still have the scar where my hair welded to my neck.

My dc are well aware of my thoughts on their hair styles and I have never had to even tell them their hair needs to be tied up out of the way.

I can't believe you are even questioning this school policy.

nits nits nits......daughters school keep getting infections in Year 10!

and yes, you should look smart and tidy at school.

Very sensible rule - can't think of any reason why you would object to it.

I made my daughter (6) have hers tied back until she asked for it cut to her chin. She likes to run about and climb and hair flapping about gets in the way. I also insist on proper closed shoes for practicality. Hair back and proper shoes means she can do everything boys can do without being hindered by hair and shoes that are purely aesthetic and only expected of girls.

I walked down the road this morning behind a girl aged about 5 with long hair. Her hair was nearly down to he waist and loose. The was just hair everywhere. She was on her way to school, and I was imagining how annoying it would be for everyone else and her. hair in paint, hair all over her book, hair in her lunch, hair hanging down over her face as she looks up at the board/teacher.

Just put it in a plait down her back. Plenty of time to have it lose at home.

I don't mind if my pupils have hair out, although it does mean that they are more likely to catch and pass on lice, but it needs to be off their face. The amount of children that come to school with hair in front of their eyes is amazing. They can't see what they are doing and it gets in their way. I think it's a good rule that sounds like it is being fairly enforced.