Boys school won't allow hair tied back

[GnomeyGnome]

My son goes to an all boys secondary school. He has shoulder length hair that he has always worn down. With the heat this week he's been tying his hair back in a loose bun. At school he was told he had to take his hairband out as it's against uniform policy. I've just read the policy and it does say hair cuts must be of a uniform and moderate length, top knots and ponytails are not permitted.

Is this usual? Seems crazy to me. My son's hair looks so much neater tied back, plus it keeps him cooler. Surely it's safer as well during things like science lessons with Bunsen burners etc!

Does anyone else's child go to a school with a policy like this? I did wonder whether to bring it up with the school but as I said, he usually always wears it down so this isn't a massive issue for him it just seems odd to me!

Bloody ridiculous.

How can they say they can't tie their hair back. Just let him do it, whatever keeps him cool in this heat.

You said that top knots and ponytails aren't permitted.
Is that a policy just for boys' hair ? If so what about girls' hair?

What about PE? Surely all longer hairstyles must be tied back for PE for Health and Safety reasons? That's the norm for PE.

In fact all longer hair must be tied back at school, surely?

Most boys schools Around here have a policy that hair can't be longer than collar length so tying it up doesn't need to be in the rules.

Pin it in a chignon ?

French plait?

That’s crazy! My DS has long hair too and at his school he HAS to wear it in a
pony tail which seems sensible to me,
keeps it off his face, away from anything dangerous and easier for sport.

Surely it's safer to have hair tied back than in their face especially if you were doing PE or science experiments

Bunches? plaits?

Ridiculous. Ds had hair down his back, but in warmer weather, it used to go up in a 'boybun'. The school made no comment at all!

Read the very first sentence of OP again.

The mixed secondary school near me says hair must be tied back if it is long enough. No distinction between boys and girls.

It's a completely ridiculous policy, but the policy nonetheless.

In the circumstances I'd have to suggest a modest trim followed by a campaign to change the policy.

Absolute madness OP. I've never understood school hair rules at all, ok so perhaps no bold unnatural colours or Mohawks, but outside of that honestly who are they to police length and style?

I remember a boy in my year had chemo and they requested he wear a hat as skin-heads were against school policy (so were hats by the way. I can only imagine the mental backflips they went through to justify that insane bit of fuckery).

I'd get a very thin black or brown headband. That will keep it back from his face and off the back of his neck but still technically complies with the rules.

Imagine if they did that for both sexes at a co-ed school! DS's boys' school just had a no extreme hairstyles, natural colours, long hair must be tied back for P.E, science, etc. rule, same as a co-ed.

The policy is clearly to stop boys having longer hair.

So you can't say 'it's not safe for PE or science' as they will say 'well yes, that's why it needs to be a moderate length'.

I'd say you are fighting a losing battle on the bun as it specifically mentions them in the policy.

I'd use pins and go for @Whataretheodds chignon idea.

He has every right to have his hair how he wants it length wise, as long as it isn't an 'extreme' style or colour i would give him my full backing to tie it in a ponytail and see what happens.

I have absolutely no tolerance for stupid and pointless rules.

If girls schools were refusing to allow them to tie their hair up there would be uproar and rightly so, so why can't a boy have long hair and tie it back to be more comfortable?

Absolute bollocks.

He has every right to have his hair how he wants it length wise,

How does he have the right?

Surely it's safer as well during things like science lessons with Bunsen burners etc!

They wouldn't stop him tying it back during the lesson.

Because he's a human child, not a show dog?!

And millions of girls in the world manage to get an education with long hair in a pony so what exactly is their issue?

Because it's his body, his hair and his choice. Schools can specify natural colours and simple styles. They don't get to choose how long someone grows their hair.

How do they accommodate Sikh boys?

But nearly every school has a uniform and appearance policy. At my dc's school they are not allowed to colour their hair or wear any make up and the boys and girls have to wear certain clothes according to their sex.

And let's not forget there is always a child in the newspaper every September with his arms folded having been sent home from school for having his hair too short.

What is moderate length hair? Shoulder length isn't short or long, surely it is moderate?