Mum’s fury after son, 12, taken out of class for weeks because his Peaky Blinders-style hair is 2mm too short
A FURIOUS mum slammed her son's school after he was taken out of classes for TWO WEEKS — because his Peaky Blinders haircut is 2mm too short.
Year 7 pupil Liam Head, 12, has to sit in a room alone for six hours a day and will miss a school trip, a choir concert, sports day and his end of term assembly.
Teachers branded the short-back-and-sides "extreme" but mum Claire says he has had the same cut three times before and did not even get a warning.
And she claims the headmaster told her the Cillian Murphy-style grade 1 clipper cut is just 1/16 of an inch — less than 2mm — under the minimum grade 1.5 length.
He has been put in isolation, which his mum claims means being left in a hot and airless room without a teacher from 9am to 3.30pm.
Mum-of-two Claire, 45, of Kirby Misperton, North Yorks, told The Sun Online: "It's cruel what they're doing. He's not even allowed a ten minute break to get some fresh air and stretch his legs.
"Isolation is for naughty children. If he had punched someone I would understand it. He's not misbehaved — he's had a haircut.
"My son has been bullied since September and the school has done nothing about it.
"Now he is being punished over this. They are just isolating him more.
"He is devastated he can't see his friends and doesn't want to go to school."
He will miss sports day and his solo spot in a choir concert next week, and was banned from joining classmates on an educational trip to a mosque.
Claire added: "He was so upset when he came home after the first day in isolation.
"He was just left with a book for an hour and a half at a time. He was only allowed to go to the toilet once all day and there's no one to help him if he gets stuck.
"It's so unfair. All I want if for him to be at school learning but they are refusing to give him an education."
Claire, married to plumber Andrew, 44, said she was not aware close-cropped sides were banned by Lady Lumley's school in Pickering.
But she insists Liam's hair is not "extreme" and is less outrageous than styles worn other boys who faced no sanction.
After three days of isolation Claire decided to keep Liam at home — where "at least he's looked after" — until the dispute is resolved.
She claims the head threatened to report her to social services and is willing to fight in court if she is prosecuted for "unauthorised absence".
Claire said: "As a mother it's just a nightmare. It's very upsetting to see your son bullied all year and then to get punished for something so small.
"I just want him back in class and learning but they're not letting him do that. I've lost all faith in the school."
She has complained to the school's board of governors and North Yorkshire County Council over his treatment.
Lady Lumley's uniform policy states: "Extraordinary hair styles and colouring are not allowed, for example braiding, unnatural colours, shaved sides and tramlines or similar."
The school said Liam was allowed food and toilet breaks and the isolation room is "well-ventilated with an open door".
Headteacher Richard Bramley said: "We have clear expectations about uniform and student appearance in our school which every student is required to follow.
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"Students accept that if they do breach the requirements, which include that extreme haircuts are not allowed, students will be isolated from their peers during the school day until the issue is resolved.
"Our intention always is to ensure a good education in a safe environment for all the young people in our care."
The council said: “We work closely with parents and our schools to ensure the safeguarding and welfare of students.
“Policy on uniform is the decision and responsibility of our schools.”
In November we told how schoolboy James Hiles, 12, was put in isolation for one day because his Peaker Blinders hairdo broke school rules in Stockport.
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