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Original poster

School hair

144 replies

MooseBreath · 04/09/2023 07:50

I will preface this by saying I am not from the UK and never attended a school with a uniform. I was a teacher in the UK for a while, and there was a uniform in those schools.

Why is there a rule about how children can style their hair? I genuinely don't see how it affects learning in any way. Is it a rule for rule's sake? If so, why aren't parents saying that the rule is outdated and should be abolished? What am I missing here?

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/09/2023 10:38

Sayitaintso33 · 05/09/2023 09:51

Do you really not think that part of growing up is working out who you are?

Show quote history

I think the important part of school is education. I don’t think faffing about with hair clothes and accessories is conducive to that goal. I don’t think people are stifled by conforming for 6hrs a day in school time.

jadey1991 · 05/09/2023 10:49

ThrallsWife · 05/09/2023 05:22

I am a teacher. Fully professional, leadership, for the most part well-respected by colleagues and students. The policies of every school I have worked in for the last 15+ years had a clause about natural-only looking hair in it for staff.

I have ignored every single one of them and have always worn unnatural, bright colours. My reasoning was that I got hired with my hair in whatever shade of bright red/ blue/ pink/ purple/ green, so if it was acceptable at interview for what was usually a promoted post, it will be fine for the job.

No one has ever pulled me up on it and I avoid pulling kids up on their hair, too. But I grew up without uniform rules before coming over to England and I do think that uniform is just one more thing for teenagers to rebel against and is part of why most of them dislike school.

I also love spotting the highly rebellious patterned socks some of them wear.

And I'm not trying to be anyone's mate; my classrooms are as disciplined as is possible under the chaotic circumstances in most of the schools in the highly deprived areas I normally work in.

As you are a qualified teacher I think what you have said is spot on. Why does it matter how the children look. I think all these school rules are ridiculous. I mean like I've said uniform is priority but the hair is another level. I'm glad you have said what you said.

Sayitaintso33 · 05/09/2023 10:53

Thanks for not disagreeing with me that working out who you are is an important part of growing up.

It is something I think strongly about.

DrCoconut · 05/09/2023 11:15

The only plus of all this is that the same rules now apply to boys and girls. I remember boys not being allowed long hair and girls having a minimum hair length.

longestlurkerever · 05/09/2023 15:03

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/09/2023 10:38

I think the important part of school is education. I don’t think faffing about with hair clothes and accessories is conducive to that goal. I don’t think people are stifled by conforming for 6hrs a day in school time.

Show quote history

But hair rules affect how you can look out of school too. That crosses a line for me.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/09/2023 15:24

pepino · 04/09/2023 08:04

My dd's secondary school say:
Long hair must be well managed.

Extreme hairstyles are not permitted.

No students may have their hair cut shorter than a barbers’ number 2

Highlights or unnatural colour not allowed.

And if these rules are broken then they will be placed in isolation until hair either grows or colour has gone.
Now, not sure what they will do if a child has alopecia or hair loss from cancer treatment? Or if in support, other students shave their hair in support?

Alopecia and hair loss caused by chemotherapy is fine. It's not the child fault.

pointythings · 05/09/2023 15:47

@OnlyFoolsnMothers that argument needs turning upside down. There's no evidence that uniform and hair rules improve outcomes or prevent bullying. It's clearly possible to produce well educated and functioning young adults without any of the petty conformity the English live so much. So why do we not let the delusions go?

Enko · 05/09/2023 15:49

The primary mine went to had rules on hair assesories this meant you could not buy the hair assesories the school shop sold 😁

Callyem · 05/09/2023 15:55

Enko · 05/09/2023 15:49

The primary mine went to had rules on hair assesories this meant you could not buy the hair assesories the school shop sold 😁

I remember the Jojo bow fad about 6 years or so ago where we as a school decided to regulate hair accessories for the simple reason that those bows were so blimmin huge not all kids could see the board 😂

Enko · 05/09/2023 17:40

Callyem · 05/09/2023 15:55

I remember the Jojo bow fad about 6 years or so ago where we as a school decided to regulate hair accessories for the simple reason that those bows were so blimmin huge not all kids could see the board 😂

Show quote history

I get that but the primary went overboard and didn't look at what the school shop was selling. So our rule was nothing bigger than a pound coin. The school shop sold little bows and they were bigger.

ThrallsWife · 05/09/2023 18:09

Maddy70 · 05/09/2023 07:24

A uniform is there so all kids are the same it helps to prevent bullying

No, it doesn't.

Kids know exactly where each of them stand in the hierarchy. Unironed shirts, hand me down uniforms, brands of phones, hair styles, scents, school bags, PE trainers, modes of transport to/ from school, addresses - all of those are very well known to the kids and can be used as a form of bullying instead. Uniform does nothing to prevent that.

pepino · 05/09/2023 18:22

FreshStart12345 · 04/09/2023 10:29

I find the hair rules have been written by Caucasian adults thinking about Caucasian children. They do not seem to consider to different needs of afro hair.
A black boy with a grade one looks perfectly fine and not like a thug/gang member as some people seem to suggest.

Exactly. And some Afro hairstyles are considered "extreme" which, in reality are anything but!

pointythings · 05/09/2023 18:24

Maddy70 · 05/09/2023 07:24

A uniform is there so all kids are the same it helps to prevent bullying

This is a statement you cannot make without actual evidence to support it.

There never is any.

Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 19:39

Our school doesn’t even allow diff hair Scrunchies 😂 red Scrunchies only in pony tail, bun or plaits.

sashh · 06/09/2023 01:57

Maddy70 · 05/09/2023 07:24

A uniform is there so all kids are the same it helps to prevent bullying

But it doesn't work to stop bullying.

If you want all children to wear the same uniform then the school needs to provide it

Heyhoherewegoagain · 06/09/2023 12:52

Onemoreday99 · 05/09/2023 19:39

Our school doesn’t even allow diff hair Scrunchies 😂 red Scrunchies only in pony tail, bun or plaits.

Absolutely bonkers but ironically I could live with this, it’s literally an accessory which can be removed. What I really take issue with is the English schools dictating haircuts and styles, there are 168 hours in a week, children are at school for literally less than 20% of this, but a haircut is there for 100% of that week. They could fuck off for that and I can’t believe so many parents tolerate this nonsense

Whatwouldscullydo · 07/09/2023 07:18

Yeah its BS isn't it. As long as its tied back for science and pe who cares what colour it is. Nothing wrong with shaved heads either. Easier for dealing with nits for sure.

I've spent years if my life around people with what would be considered extreme hair styles. Tattoos , piercings, alternative clothing etc. Everything that would get ya kicked out of school. Never had a single issue.

Any issue I ever had came from your " smart, suited and booted , full of own self importance" office ready people.

Perhapsperhapsto · 07/09/2023 07:56

‘Now, not sure what they will do if a child has alopecia or hair loss from cancer treatment? ‘
Is that a serious question?? What do you think they do? Bar then from class, fine then for any time off for chemo??
wise up.

Sayitaintso33 · 07/09/2023 11:16

Heyhoherewegoagain · 06/09/2023 12:52

Absolutely bonkers but ironically I could live with this, it’s literally an accessory which can be removed. What I really take issue with is the English schools dictating haircuts and styles, there are 168 hours in a week, children are at school for literally less than 20% of this, but a haircut is there for 100% of that week. They could fuck off for that and I can’t believe so many parents tolerate this nonsense

Show quote history

That's a very good point.
As an oldie I have been pleasantly surprised by the trend of modern mothers to allow their children autonomy over their own hair.
Why can schools insist on certain haircuts if parents can't?

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