13-year-old Lauren McDowell was sent home from school for having a leopard print hairstyle, and her mother, Yvonne, has claimed the school “are discriminating against her because of how she looks”.
Explaining that her daughter got her hair cut about a week before she went back to school, the mum-of-six has blasted the school for encouraging individuality but not supporting her daughter.
“She is my child and not theirs. She didn't sign away her rights when she started at school. The school says they encourage children as individuals but this is not supporting her. Lauren has a life outside of school," she told the Express.
Yvonne has spoken to the school and while she is clear on their uniform policy has said that they shouldn’t be allowed tell anyone how to style their hair.
“I have explained to the school that I can understand it's uniform policy and I totally agree with it but you cannot tell anyone how their hair should be styled. They are discriminating against her because of how she looks. She has the right to express herself in whatever way she wants as long as she is in school uniform.”
The pupil, whose hair is shaved on one side and dyed black and blonde to look like a leopard, was sent home as her hairstyle was deemed a “breach of the school’s uniform policy.”
Explaining the school’s policy on uniform, Dale Barrowclough, Headmaster at Forge Valley, said: "This policy is communicated to parents frequently and is available to download from our website. The policy clearly states that extreme haircuts, including hair colour are not allowed. A pupil arrived at school with a 'leopard skin hair colour' style.”
"I took the decision to send the pupil home in order to remedy this breach of the school's uniform policy," he added.
