Mum blasts daughter's school as she's banned from class due to her haircut
Lydia Beaumont's 13-year-old daughter Calliah was sent home from school after turning up on a Monday morning with pink and purple hair - which the school said was against its policy
A girl who dyed her hair purple has been excluded from her school after being told pupils' "hair must be of a natural colour".
Lydia Beaumont's 13-year-old daughter Calliah was sent home from Lliswerry High School in Newport, Wales, after turning up on a Monday morning with muted tones of pink and purple in her hair. Within minutes, she was told by school staff that she had flouted school rules. The teen was then made to stay away from her peers and learn in a room elsewhere until her hair had been dyed back to its original colour, mum Lydia said, adding that her daughter hasn't been able to return to the class since. A school spokesperson said its "policy clearly states that hair must be of a natural colour".
Lydia said: "I have never had a problem with the school. I've always stuck up for them. Calliah is such a good kid. She's never been in trouble, she doesn't wear skirts (that are too short), she doesn't wear a face full of make-up, fake lashes or fake tan. She turns up early every day for school and she is respectful, polite and helpful to everyone.
"She has been chosen multiple times in the past to attend trips and workshops to represent the school because of her good behaviour, yet she was sent into a room because of her hair colour," the mum told Wales Online.
Lydia argued: "This affects her learning in no way shape or form and she definitely doesn't deserve to be shoved into a room until she dyes it back, as they said, or called out and embarrassed in front of a whole classroom of teenagers."
Lydia believes the incident has gone too far and that she will be meeting with senior staff at the school.
She said: "They want to focus on bigger things happening in that school and not a child's hair colour."
A spokesperson for Lliswerry High School said: "A learner arrived at school this morning with pink and purple hair, which does not comply with our uniform policy.
"Our policy clearly states that hair must be of a natural colour; colours such as pink, blue, and purple are not permitted.
"These guidelines are in place to promote a positive learning environment and ensure consistency and wellbeing for all learners. All parents and carers are made aware of our policies.
"We would also like to clarify that the learner was not placed in isolation but in our inclusion room with other students.
"In line with council policy, learners who breach the school uniform policy are placed in the inclusion room. They are spoken to by a member of the school's wellbeing team and parents are contacted to explain what has happened.
"We encourage any parents or carers with questions or concerns to contact the school directly so we can discuss and resolve any issues together."