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!

Yes, also illegal.

What is the rule for? Why can't boys have long hair? And yes, as a PP pointed out, it's racist.

Plait it?

I bet they bend over backwards to be inclusive and part of stonewall but they are still all so obsessed with gender stereotypes.

You have to love the entitlement of some mothers on this place sometimes.

Where are you asserting that this right comes from? Where does he get the right from to attend a school with clear rules and then not obey them?

Batshit rules that have primary pupils going thirsty in 25+ degree heat because they take water instead of juice. That have high school pupils sweltering in woollen blazers in the same heat? A school that won't let a boy tie their hair up?

Fuck that. Entitlement from parents when it's the schools with draconian non sensical rules that don't make a single bit of difference to the child's education

So glad I live i Scotland where common sense prevails for the children.

Archaic. The school need to get with the times. You need to get this policy changed. There must be other parents with boys with long hair that you can join forces with?

In the meantime can he clip it back or use a headband? They don't seem to be mentioned in the 'policy'.

Could you wax it so it stands straight up, rather like a bat turned the other way round?

Or like Jedward?

Or like someone frightened by a ghost?

Or someone sat on a conker (still in its case)?

Or like Stan Laurel when puzzled?

I think I've said enough, I'll go now...

I don't think there's anything wrong with parents questioning the rules.

Especially as everyone says you "choose" the school so accept the rules.

That's actually not the case for so many. They get the school with slave they are allocated.

And if we don't challenge correctly with reasonable arguments and justifications then nothing changes.

The rules once were that woman couldn't vote. Imagine if that wasn't challenged?

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Are there any schools that dictate the length of girls hair (except for no skinheads or clippers under a number x like may be applied to both sexes)?

Op its ridiculous. No wonder schools think they can get away with stuff like this, because posters on here would chop their kids left hand off of school said so.

Its perfectly possible to teach children with long hair. Mixed schools and girls schools manage it just fine.

Hair should be clean, and where possible ( hair type permitting.) Tied back when required.

This school is pretty discriminatory as its holding kids to white western standards.

What utter nonsense.

There are a few boys with longer hair at dd2s school. I hope they keep it and fuck gender stereotypes and never allow anyone to bully them this way...

I don't think you should sign up to a school and then flout the policies that were already there. Is this a new policy?

It sounds unreasonable. But then rules are rules, and you have effectively signed up for them by sending him there.
Could he become involved in the school council or whatever!similar body they have to propose a change to this rule?

He has the right on account of it being HIS hair.
He can tie it back to comply with H&S but school have some antiquated policy on hair length which has no purpose.

"Yes, also illegal."

The schools in our area make exceptions for long hair that is uncut for religious reasons.

If op's son is at a boys school then it is probably selective. He has sat an exam to get in and she has considered him very fortunate to have a place. And I'm sure this rule would have been in place at the point of application.

Lots of interesting replies. As mentioned in my OP, he has always wore his hair down before. He has been at the school for 4 years and this is the first time he has tied it back. He's quite happy to keep it down if that's what the rules are. I was just shocked that that was the policy and was interested to hear whether it was common at other schools.

It's a state academy run school for those asking. The rest of their policies seem perfectly normal!

Okay for him to have longer hair just not okay for him to tie said hair back?

What empty headed committee of ninnies make up these nonsensical rules.

Academy schools always seem to love the nutty rules.

It's a state academy run school for those asking. The rest of their policies seem perfectly normal!
Do other schools in the academy trust have a policy against children tying back hair?

Is it long enough to hold back with a pencil? Kinda twist it sound the pencil and then poke it back through. Not sure if that constitutes a bun

No topknots or ponytails...off he goes to school with his pigtails, then!

I could understand if they were asking him to cut it. But turning a blind eye to the length and then making him keep it down in such hot weather seems silly. Maybe they're hoping he'll cut it!