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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

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

62 replies

pannetone · 05/03/2018 20:58

Maybe I’m getting this our of proportion (DH thinks so!) but I’m not happy with the rule the school ( secondary ) has just introduced that long hair must be tied back. This applies to boys and girls - there are a few boys with long-ish hair. But the new rule proportionally affects more girls- including my DD.

The rule was that long hair had to be tied back for safety or hygiene reasons eg in DT or Food Tech. I can’t think of a reason why long hair needs to be tied back all the time. If it’s that the school think it looks ‘smarter’, I’m not happy that it is primarily a judgement on how girls should look.

OP posts:

Caulk · 05/03/2018 21:30

You’d be surprised how my time is wasted by having to tell kids to stop playing with their hair during lesson time.

DilysMoon · 05/03/2018 21:30

Completely reasonable, our primary has the same rule for the purpose of reducing nit transfer. I insist dd has her hair tied up for preschool for this reason. DNiece caught nits for the first time in high school, no hair rules there and long hair swishing about all over. Seems like a good rule to me.

Petalbird · 05/03/2018 21:34

Considering how many 6 formers can't remember hair ties for science, I'm not surprised that our school has a blanket rule for lower years that long hair must be tied or at least 10mins of each practical lesson would be wasted

Wh0KnowsWhereTheT1meG0es · 05/03/2018 21:43

I can't think of a single good reason for wearing it down in a school environment to be honest.

RedSkyAtNight · 05/03/2018 21:43

I imagine the tied back rule is to stop both hair flicking, hair over face and time wasting while pushing hair off face. We have same rule here and DD and her friends constantly seem to be working out how much hair has to be tied back for them to get away with it!!

RedSkyAtNight · 05/03/2018 21:45

If you are arguing this is unfair.. what about the "clean shaven" rule that most schools seem to have?? Is that discriminatory towards boys?

AtiaoftheJulii · 05/03/2018 22:04

Tbh it still surprises me to see pretty much all the girls at my kids' schools wandering around with hair wafting everywhere! When I was at school (leans on cane and wags wizened finger) long hair always had to be tied up. I wouldn't be bothered, and I can't see it as a sexism issue if the boys are allowed long hair too.

Original poster

pannetone · 05/03/2018 22:06

OK - think that is unanimous then and I accept IABVU ! Seems quite a usual rule - just not in our local schools where full-flowing hair is the norm!

OP posts:

windchimesabotage · 05/03/2018 22:09

I think its pretty good that the school allows boys to have long hair. At least they arent forcing people to cit their hair off like they would try and do at my old school!!
Dont really care about the hair tied back thing because its not a permanent or damaging thing is it? I get more pissed off about people being being forced to wear trousers or skirts tbh or being forced to wear a certain cut or brand.

I think general rules about colour of things and having neat and tidy hair are okay.

Hersetta427 · 05/03/2018 22:11

Sounds perfectly normal to me. Dd's primary school has this rule and so does the secondary school she will start in September.

I can't really understand why it would seem unreasonable to anyone.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 05/03/2018 22:16

Lice (bleurgh), sticky hair around the face from eating lunch, not to mention the unbelievable knots. Happy to have the latter two at the weekends but not in the school week.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 05/03/2018 22:19

Plus loose hair can get in the way of school work - our school asks for hair off the face so that children can see clearly.

speakfriendandenter · 05/03/2018 22:25

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.

steppemum · 05/03/2018 22:33

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.

GinAndSonic · 05/03/2018 22:39

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.

Voice0fReason · 05/03/2018 22:41

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

wheresmyphone · 05/03/2018 22:43

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

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

ReinettePompadour · 05/03/2018 22:48

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.

RitzyRita · 05/03/2018 23:01

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.

Glumglowworm · 05/03/2018 23:11

Totally reasonable rule, you’re being ridiculous

Walkingdeadfangirl · 06/03/2018 02:03

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

Bellamuerte · 06/03/2018 02:47

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.

Cavender · 06/03/2018 03:18

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.

Kokeshi123 · 06/03/2018 04:26

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.

TeeBee · 06/03/2018 04:34

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

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