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Original poster

Why do some schools ban certain hair cuts?

58 replies

KindergartenKop · 05/07/2022 14:57

I'm looking at secondary schools. One of them doesn't allow shaved heads under a no.3 grade cut. My son regularly has his shaved short, mainly because he has thick hair (due to South Asian genes). Is this normal in schools? Is this something I should avoid in a school or should I just shut up 😁

OP posts:
amigreedytowantmore · 05/07/2022 15:00

Yes this is normal. Mainly because shaved heads are often associated with certain anti social behaviour and I guess visually boys with shaved heads have certain assumptions made about them so the school is trying to avoid that? Plus they have a habit of getting designs shaved into them

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 05/07/2022 15:02

If I had to guess I'd say because atry general level certain haircuts tend to be favoured by children who behave in certain ways

And for the hard of thinking that"s not the same as saying every skinhead belongs to te NF

IglesiasPiggl · 05/07/2022 15:02

Yes, they have to be really specific with the rules because pupils are constantly trying to push the boundaries with uniform, hair, make up etc. My son's school even has diagrams of acceptable facial hair!

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MrsTerryPratchett · 05/07/2022 15:05

Because they don't understand the difference between correlation and causation.

carefullycourageous · 05/07/2022 15:07

The reason is because the UK is weirdly controlling and a lot of headteachers pretend this stuff matters.

In my area the schools vary widely and the better schools are less strict. No such nonsense in the school my youngest goes to thankfully.

It would factor in my decision making when choosing as it indicates the head is a twat, so likely to be other irritations.

carefullycourageous · 05/07/2022 15:07

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/07/2022 15:05

Because they don't understand the difference between correlation and causation.

Hahaha yes !

KarrotKake · 05/07/2022 15:10

How short does he normally have it cut?
If he has really thick, dark, hair, I'd guess they won't be able to tell if it's grade 2! It's as much about looking like you have a head of hair as actually having it, ime. DS gets away with stuff his blond friends dont

VioletCharlotte · 05/07/2022 15:10

It's ridiculous isn't it? I can remember my DS2 being out into isolation for having a grade 2 around the back and sides, he looked really smart.

However it was fine for DS1 to have long, unkempt hair!

Original poster
KindergartenKop · 05/07/2022 15:14

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-40059831.amp

Basically it's this haircut!

OP posts:
KarrotKake · 05/07/2022 15:19

Yeah, that would probably get picked up in a school that is tough on hairstyles. Sorry.
I guess I was thinking if grade 2 all over not getting noticed.

Nat6999 · 05/07/2022 15:20

It's just another way to beat kids in to being little clones of what schools want them to be, then you see teachers walking around with haircuts & colours that break every rule that children have to follow.

cantthinkofanothergoodusername · 05/07/2022 15:29

where I live, it's the very crappiest of schools who seem
obsessed with uniform and hair. The good schools are far less bothered.

Original poster
KindergartenKop · 05/07/2022 15:55

It's actually a really good school, it doesn't have a bad reputation. Maybe just in the dark ages!

OP posts:
Simonjt · 05/07/2022 16:05

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/07/2022 15:05

Because they don't understand the difference between correlation and causation.

This, with a desire for control thrown in.

Stevie6 · 05/07/2022 16:09

My DS went to the barber and got a grade 1 in back and sides instead of a 2, his school said he had to do "reflection" until it was an acceptable length (doing all his work and spending break times in one of the school offices)

AlecTrevelyan006 · 05/07/2022 17:05

carefullycourageous · 05/07/2022 15:07

The reason is because the UK is weirdly controlling and a lot of headteachers pretend this stuff matters.

In my area the schools vary widely and the better schools are less strict. No such nonsense in the school my youngest goes to thankfully.

It would factor in my decision making when choosing as it indicates the head is a twat, so likely to be other irritations.

This

x2boys · 05/07/2022 17:07

cantthinkofanothergoodusername · 05/07/2022 15:29

where I live, it's the very crappiest of schools who seem
obsessed with uniform and hair. The good schools are far less bothered.

Same where I live there, s a school near me that has been in and out of special measures for years it's obsessed with uniform, haircuts and shoe style
My sons school is far less obsessed and has a far better reputation for both behaviour and academic results go figure .

dementedpixie · 05/07/2022 17:15

I'm in Scotland and they don't seem to have the same sort of hair rules. I've seen all sorts of lengths and colours at dcs school

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/07/2022 17:45

This, with a desire for control thrown in.

True. And just a pinch of racism often!

FrippEnos · 05/07/2022 18:29

I can think of three rules that I would have for hair

1/ not covering the eyes.
2/ must be tied back/out of the way when required.

3/ no unnatural colours. (mainly to do with issues around football teams)

Mojoj · 05/07/2022 18:31

Because lots of schools like to control as much as they possibly can, including telling kids how to dress, cut their hair, eat, speak etc. It's pathetic.

BakewellGin1 · 05/07/2022 19:19

DS secondary is ridiculous... He used to always have Grade 1 back and sides with top a little longer - mainly as when the back and sides grows its outwards rather then in length ha ha. Every morning combs it, neat and tidy.

Was stopped and told it was too short... Next day was stopped and asked why his Mum hadn't done anything about it - I mean I can do a lot of things but not make hair grow in less than 24 hours.

BakewellGin1 · 05/07/2022 19:21

Oh and they actually have staff on the doors as they get off buses in morning
Checking hair, shoes, trouser length (and fit), shirts, ties, blazer and make up..

TheWeeDonkey · 05/07/2022 19:36

It's pathetic isn't it. DS is no longer a student but I used to find the rules at secondary school very constricting and unnecessary.

For example I used to shave his hair a grade 2 / 3 because it was neat, easy for him to manage and stopped him bringing little guests home. Not allowed in high school.
He would wear black trainers in primary because he played football in the school yard so they lasted longer, not allowed in high school.

Blazers were the uniform, even during heat waves and the couldn't wear a coat over their blazer during winter, completely irrational. How are children to learn when they're uncomfortably hot or cold?

Original poster
KindergartenKop · 06/07/2022 20:28

@MrsTerryPratchett the racism is the thing I was thinking about actually. Thick dark hair can be very hot, sometimes the best way to deal with it is to shave it close. The school is not particularly diverse.

OP posts: