School places boy, 12, in isolation for 'extreme' new Easter holiday haircut

A ticked-off dad says a school is discriminating against his son after he was thrown into isolation over his "extreme" Easter holiday haircut.

Jacob, 12, "would have been treated the same way by teachers if he was a girl", the boy's angry father told SurreyLive.

Dad James Cullen received a phone call from St Andrew's Catholic School, in Leatherhead, Surrey, saying the style was unacceptable.

He was told the lad was being placed away from other students because of blond highlights and grade one shave down the side of his head.

Having seen female pupils with similar highlights, he believed that the punishment Jacob had received was unreasonable.

Jacob's blond highlights caused a stir - and he was separated from his friends (Surrey Live / Darren Pepe)

"In the meeting I had with the school, his head of year suggested that he shave his head," said Mr Cullen. "I don't believe for a minute if he was a female pupil that they would have said that."

The school denied the suggestion was made during the meeting.

Despite the protests, the isolation continued up until Monday April 25, at which point he threatened to keep Jacob at home if it continued.

The school replied saying that the isolation would end from Tuesday, as they felt the need to draw a line under the matter.

The 12-year-old isolation has ended but the parent won't let the matter drop (Surrey Live / Darren Pepe)

"I don't want to draw a line under it, I've just started," said Mr Cullen.

"What we need is consistency, the rules need to apply across the board. I've dropped Jacob off at school every morning for the past seven months, and I've seen lots of female students with bleached blonde hair."

The school's uniform policy, as stated on its website, says: "Extremes of fashion in clothing, footwear and hairstyle are not permitted. Hair colour and style must be appropriate for school.

St Andrew's Catholic School punished the boy for his Easter holiday haircut (Google Maps)

"Dyed hair is not acceptable. Number 2 is the shortest cut allowed."

Headteacher Alan Mitchell denied that the rules are applied differently for male and female students, and said that the school's rules are explained clearly to parents in the months before their child is admitted.

"Parents would expect me to apply the rules fairly and consistently," he said. "We made the rules crystal clear, and we know that's what is best for the kids."