Great Sankey mum in Penketh High School row over son's haircut

10:30am Thursday 20th October 2011 in News

Eleven-year-old Regan Smith has been taken out of school by mum Kirsty in a row over his mohican haircut Eleven-year-old Regan Smith has been taken out of school by mum Kirsty in a row over his mohican haircut

A MUM has taken her 11-year-old son out of school in a row over his mohican haircut.

Kirsty Smith is currently keeping son Regan away from Penketh High School because staff have told him to change his hairstyle or he will be put into isolation until it grows back.

But Kirsty, of Cronulla Drive, Great Sankey, is refusing to back down and remove the mohican.

The 36-year-old said: “I find it ridiculous that they think I should change his haircut.

“He only wears it down for school – I wouldn’t let him wear it up.

“It’s part of his individuality and I’m not prepared to change it and he doesn’t want me to either.”

Regan has sported the mohican, designed by Kirsty, for six years.

Regan said: “I would feel ridiculous without it, it makes me an individual. All my mates like it and some want it too.”

Kirsty says she is willing to widen the mohican but that Regan is ‘keeping the style full stop’.

He has previously dyed the mohican blue, red and purple.

“We are a different family and this is our lifestyle,” she said.

“He is being punished for his individuality.”

The mum-of-three said that her son is a grade A student and goes to various after school clubs.

Regan plays rugby, trains at judo and wants to be a cage fighter.

He is also training to do tattoos like dad and tattoo artist Andy.

His mum said: “I like people to walk into a room and see him. This doesn’t affect his lifestyle – his grades, attitude and behaviour are good.

“My concern is getting him back into school.”

And she added she could home tutor Regan if head teacher Jeff Hughes does not allow the mohican to remain.

Mr Hughes said: “At our school we have a clear policy on haircuts which applies to all pupils and which all parents are aware of.

“We’ve been in discussions with Mr and Mrs Smith about this issue and our main priority is getting their son back into school. We want to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

Comments(74)

LJ says...
10:37am Thu 20 Oct 11

He looks f***in ridiculous. Somebody had to tell him.

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Cleopatra says...
10:46am Thu 20 Oct 11

I am not surprised the school head teacher has objected to the mohican hairstyle, it's off-centre! lol

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JoeyLad says...
11:28am Thu 20 Oct 11

Yet another idiotic parent. Rules are rules. We all have to abide by them. Why don't they realise this?

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sage, THE OWL says...
12:06pm Thu 20 Oct 11

I HAD A SIMILAR HAIRCUT BUT BETTER, IN THE EARLY 80'S, MY TEACHERS HAD TO ACCEPT I WAS A PUNK ROCKER AND I STILL AM , RULES ARE FOR FOOLS, IF THE LADS STILL DOING HIS SCHOOL WORK, WHY THE PROBLEM, ITS HIS HAIR SO LEAVE HIM ALONE.

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whiteham says...
12:37pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Kids should be able to have what eva hairstyle they want, i think his hairstyle is different from any boring hairstyle, as i have had my kids hair the same, as long as it doesn't affect the school work or anything else, then i don't see the problem.

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richiepooh says...
12:42pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Sankey school should be ashamed. They are there to do a job and that is to teach children they have no other purpose in society. Since the style of hair has no bearing on this they need to butt out. Maybe they should look at the state some of their teachers think are suitable attire.

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LJ says...
12:47pm Thu 20 Oct 11

His mum said: “I like people to walk into a room and see him. " Who's the biggest attention seeker here - mum or Regan?

I don't blame the school for setting standards. It's education - not a fashion show

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warrington_biker says...
1:29pm Thu 20 Oct 11

I'm all for education and individuality.. but that haircut.. on that kid.. looks ridiculous!

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BQ9 says...
2:12pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Would the school stop someone with an afro, dreadlocks or maybe a turben covering their hair, not sure what the reason is for why they won't allow children with lines or different hair cuts like Regans but surely their only concern should be are they learning and improving as young adults, they stop children challenging aswell at Penketh even when the child is right.

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Pooreastender says...
2:22pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Oh no. Not another parent standing on their "principles".
If you want the child educated you have to abide by the rules of the school he attends. Otherwise send him to a public school and see whether his haircut is acceptable.
By the way - it looks awful!

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whiteham says...
2:39pm Thu 20 Oct 11

I agree with rules, but some rules r abit pathetic. To many do's and dont's, the school needs to focus on what is important, which is educating the kids.

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Pooreastender says...
2:42pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Whilst education is the most important aspect, learning to abide by rules is a good grounding for the world of work.
Does his mum think the lad will get a good job with a haircut like that?

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moleogod says...
4:01pm Thu 20 Oct 11

so what cut the doo off and give him a skin head. will that be ok for great sankey high school

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silverlady54 says...
4:39pm Thu 20 Oct 11

What a wonderful lesson for the child, it doesn't matter what anyone else says or what the rules state, he will do what he wants! I can guess how that attitude is going to develop as he grows older.

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lougel says...
5:30pm Thu 20 Oct 11

This is another case of Teachers thinking themselves above the Law of the Land. Under the Human rights act this boy has the right to freedom of expression. In my Son's School they are told that if another pupil hits them they are not allowed to hit back, under UK law, any person who is assaulted has the right to retaliate and defend themselves, so long as they use reasonable force, so why are teachers allowed to contradict UK Law and make up their own policies?

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grey_man says...
5:46pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Because they have a school to run not an anarchist collective.

Next.

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lougel says...
5:59pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Strange..I thought an Anarchist was a person Who did not abide by or disagreed with the Law, in this case that would be the teachers....next

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A. G. Partridge says...
6:21pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Kirsty Kirsty Kirsty. Come on love - were you absent from parent classes or were you too young when you had your son?
Get Regan a side parting and be done with the fuss.
This country.
PS:Lougel - you're as stupid as Kirsty.

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lougel says...
6:30pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Partridge, only your generation would still call a female "LOVE" and that generation don't have enough hair for a side part.LOL.

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grey_man says...
6:39pm Thu 20 Oct 11

What law do you think the school have broken? The Kids Can Do Whatever The F*** They Like Act 1974?

All schools have codes. If this kid and his mum don't like the codes of dress and appearance at this one, they are free to go somewhere else and see what they do about it.

The school hasn't broken any laws. So your point is basically nonsense.

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lougel says...
6:49pm Thu 20 Oct 11

I did not say that the School had broken the Law. I said that the School rules Contradict UK Law....As my teacher used to say "make sure you understand the question before you write you answer."

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A. G. Partridge says...
6:53pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Sorry Logal, not being part of the bebo generation I've no idea what LOL means.
Anyway, the point is Kirsty needs to send her young boy back to school and play by the rules. Presumably if the head teacher of this school came in naked he couldn't be taken seriously if he cited his "individuality" as the reson for it? Sometimes in life we have to do things for a greater purpose than our own.

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HulkHogan says...
7:08pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Schools, just like many work places have rules on appearance. If I went to work with this haircut, I would be asked to get it sorted. If people do not follow rules, then we have a problem, remember the riots not so long ago. If I had a child at this school, I would be pleased that they were bothered about standards. Whether the school is right or wrong is irrelevant, the fact is they have made this rule and should stick by it. The only thing suffering is the boy’s education. It seems the mum is more concerned about making a point, then her son getting an education. I am unsure why it was explained that the mum designed the hair cut. Seems like it’s the mum who is trying to push this individual thing. If a person is only an individual because of a silly haircut, then they are not much of an individual to me.

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lougel says...
7:22pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Partridge, your just not getting this are you?If the boy's Headmaster came to School naked He would have broken the Law.If the boy himself came to School naked He would also be in breach of the Law. Under the Human Rights Act (which has now been passed as law in this Country) This boy has the right to wear his hair in any style he likes. That right cannot be taken away simply because he is on School premises, in short, Teachers can set rules but those rules cannot contradict the Law of the Land

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grey_man says...
7:23pm Thu 20 Oct 11

lougel

The school rules don't contradict anything and certainly not UK law. The mother has been told what the code of appearance is at this school and chosen to argue that it doesn't apply to her son and now found out that it does. She's an idiot.

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grey_man says...
7:26pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Oh. And don't forget to link to the section of the Human Rights Act that deals with the right to have crap haircuts. If you can't, it'll just look like you're making stuff up.

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itme says...
7:29pm Thu 20 Oct 11

is lougel wolfie smith ?

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itme says...
7:29pm Thu 20 Oct 11

is lougel wolfie smith ?

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grey_man says...
7:30pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Tell you what. Being the helpful sort I am, here's what the section on Freedom of Expression says:

'The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society.'

So there we go. You're talking rubbish. The school is setting its own 'formalities and conditions' as it should for the good of everybody at the school and she and her son are expected to consider their own 'duties and responsibilities'.

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Abroad says...
7:39pm Thu 20 Oct 11

As long as the school applies the rule consistantly then there shouldn't be a problem. However, as BQ9 stated, what about Seikh's, Rastafarians etc. Are they made to cut their hair in order to comply? What if an actual, real life, Mohican Indian were to join the school, how would the rule be applied. Schools exist to educate not to enforce conformity.

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lougel says...
7:40pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Maybe you should read that again..formalities,c
onditions and restrictions "as are prescribed by Law" not by School rules.

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HulkHogan says...
7:49pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Government guidance allows schools to set their own rules on hairstyles. This does not affect human rights, on the grounds that pupils are free to choose another school. If a work place stipulates that a man must not come to work with stubble (unshaven), then they are allowed to do this. This does not take away this persons right to express themselves by having stubble, as they are free to get another job. The school is not saying the boy cannot have this hairstyle. They have stated that while his hair is like this, it will teach him in isolation, thus still proving an education with him still keeping the hair. The mum needs to put her child’s education first.

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grey_man says...
7:54pm Thu 20 Oct 11

lougel

'...and are necessary in a democratic society'

If you feel the school have broken the law, phone the police and let us know what they tell you. Go for your life. In fact, why not record the conversation so we can all have a good laugh?

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Mr.Jiro says...
7:55pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Bore off Lougel

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itme says...
8:01pm Thu 20 Oct 11

"Bore off Lougel" thats infringing its human rights

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old-codger says...
8:06pm Thu 20 Oct 11

He looks like a f. . .g Parrot, I wonder what his mother looks like, It is illegal not to send your child to school. But that wont bother this type of parent,

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jimmi says...
8:13pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Totally agree with Hulkhogan & grey_man. Rules are rules. all the other children have to follow them so should this child. If the school made an exception in this case it would be the thin end of the wedge. You are told the rules before your child starts - if you dont like them either grin & bear them or go elsewhere. Simple.

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SSVP says...
8:37pm Thu 20 Oct 11

I think that some people are getting sidetracked by this law and that law. This always happens when things happen that people are unhappy with...they start banging on about "Human Rights" this and that. the point is; we do not live in nor do we want to live in a country where people just decide they dont like something and therefore do not follow rules and regulations that are put in place. Kids today are generally great, but they need to learn discipline: a good place for this to happen is school. End of. Schools have rules like many places we got to or where we work. if you don't like the rules of that place....don't got there. Im sure that this mum will realise that her son's education is far more important than a hairstyle. If she doesn't.......then what example is she setting. by the way.....I thin it's awesome that the school are taking a firm stance on this. I wonder what othr schools in Warrington would do?

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purplestars09 says...
10:02pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Seriously...calm down people!

This is hardly a recent rule in schools...we had the same rule at high school ten years ago. Therefore Im pretty sure that the mother knew of this BEFORE she sent her son to the school in the first place.

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local man says...
10:19pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Luckily he wants to be a cage fighter so not much education required. looking like a complete moron might be helpful to him in the ring, his opponents will be too busy laughing to fight. Unless his mum tells them not to, as he is expressing himself by doing exactly what she wants him to do. Be a rebel kid, get a nice neat haircut and upset your mum.

Lets just hope he grows out of it.

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OMG...79 says...
10:31pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Mint hair cut, do whatever you want, don't let them tell you want to do!

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Cleopatra says...
11:13pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Well there has been quite a bit of reference to the law but it's clear from what is being said that the law is not fully inderstood by those referring to it.
Firstly it is not illegal not send your child to school but you must provide your child with an acceptable standard of education at home either by a parent tutoring them or a private tutor.
Secondly it is not against the law to go naked in public. simple nudity is not illegal but using nudity to harrass, distress, or alarm others is an offence against The Public Order Act of 1986.

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pognoogle says...
11:21pm Thu 20 Oct 11

This is about discipline and respect for basic ground rules. This kid's mohican isn't for any religious reason (like Sikh/Rastafarians) its for pure attention seeking and defiance. It might not affect his learning so to speak, but it discourages unity and equality between peers. I went to Penketh High 12 years ago, and even then they were pretty tight on hairstyles (no braids/coloured extensions/FANCY BOBBLES!) Its not a new rule, and its not a hard rule to stick by. Its just a shame that Regan's idiot mother is so desperate for her 'non-conformist lifestyle' (LOLLLL) to be considered more important than her son's education.

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pognoogle says...
11:22pm Thu 20 Oct 11

p.s. it doesn't even suit so I'd get rid anyway

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pognoogle says...
11:23pm Thu 20 Oct 11

p.s. it doesn't even suit the kid so I'd get rid anyway

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widnesman says...
11:45pm Thu 20 Oct 11

Its only a fad between mummy,son and school.
He`ll no doubt be in the news again,in a few years, with his waist long hair and beard.
"THATS LIFE"

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Freeborn John says...
8:58am Fri 21 Oct 11

If the lad's got his mothers brains he might as well stay off school permanently.

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toffeeman_4ever says...
9:26am Fri 21 Oct 11

Awwwww, he wants to be a cage fighter!!! pmfp!!!! laters.....

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MikeJT says...
10:20am Fri 21 Oct 11

We have one poster who has (correctly) pointed out that the schools rules may be in breach of humand rights ...... I belive pointing to an actual part of the legislation.

We have other people pointing out that the school policy may not apply to other people on ground of their ehtnesicity, which might actually be contrary to the Equality Act.

NOBODY has actually posted what the schools policy actually states about hairstyles. If its anything like my kids school used to be, (hairstyles must be neat and tidy, not causing offence to other students and long hair must be tied up during practical lessons for safety) then this haircut would not fall foul of it.

Its NOT illegal not to send your kids to school, it is ILLEGAL not to have arrangements in place for your childs education, and the mother has said he can be homeschooled.

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LJ says...
11:08am Fri 21 Oct 11

Home schooling would be a total waste of money on a kid that wants to be a cage fighter and tatoo artist.

Mother needs to get over herself.

He can have as many stupid haircuts as he wants when he's 18!

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Dustin says...
12:04pm Fri 21 Oct 11

"Mothers’ Union back parent classes" - Kirsty Smith should enrol on these classes as soon as possible. They might be the amaking of her and help her son to grow up without any odd parental baggage.

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Northernsoul1 says...
10:17pm Fri 21 Oct 11

Lets be honest here. The haircut or lack of it is not really the issue here is it? The boys parents will have agreed to abide by the rules of the school before he went there. If they cannot or will not abide by these rules then they are at fault not the boy. They must make alternative and proper arrangements for his education where the hair styles they wish him to sport will be accomodated.

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MikeJT says...
8:19am Sat 22 Oct 11

"Mr Hughes said: “At our school we have a clear policy on haircuts which applies to all pupils and which all parents are aware of."

You can read the policies in force at Penketh High School by going to their website. In respect of haircuts it says....."..........
....................
.... errrrr hang on!! Like I said, before we criticise the parents for breaking the rules or make comments on the families attitude (nobody has actually said this is a "bad" kid), lets see what the rule actually says.

(Yes, there are situations where schools have said that people are breaching NON-EXISTANT rules or have interepted actually rules in a wholly obscure way simply to support their stance)

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johnyboy01 says...
8:23am Sat 22 Oct 11

he looks a right d..k with that hair cut!!, good on the school for taking this stand

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JoeyLad says...
10:20am Sat 22 Oct 11

Oh dear, they've taken this to the Daily Mail. They've included a picture and he looks hideous! Hasn't even got his tie straight, never mind the **** haircut. What an embarrassment to out town!

http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
2051942/Mother-keeps
-11-year-old-son-hom
e-school-told-cut-an
ti-establishment-hai
rcut.html

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JoeyLad says...
10:21am Sat 22 Oct 11

*our

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Dustin says...
11:56am Sat 22 Oct 11

JoeyLad is spot on about the snaps in the Daily Mail, and without a doubt the additional photos go some way to explaining the root cause(s) of this news worthy story.

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itme says...
12:08pm Sat 22 Oct 11

a picture paints a thousand words

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moleogod says...
12:53pm Sat 22 Oct 11

you look like a knob shave it off and start again with a slap ed simples. dont go the dailymail all your doing by not backing down is letting him fall behind on school work. he is 11 let him grow it out, and come back with another ludicrous hair do in a few months. im quite sure 11 year old boys hair grows back its not a once in a lifetime opportunity to get a silly cut.

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itme says...
1:55pm Sat 22 Oct 11

The best publicity for warrington since kerry kat...........oh god what am I thinking !!

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warringtonmum says...
3:35pm Sat 22 Oct 11

Can't believe the names you are all calling this boy, he is 11 years old, the names you are using are disgusting, i would assume none of you have kids, to think that you would use words like that to describe 1, you should be ashamed of yourselves!!!!!!!!!!
!!

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leechappers says...
6:19pm Sat 22 Oct 11

Well done Warringtonmum - the comments are definately disgusting. I do feel that he should abide by the school rules though and shave it off. Rules are there to be kept and his parents will have received a school handbook BEFORE he started there giving the rules and regulations of the school and therefore would have had ample time to rectify his hair before school started.

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toffeeman_4ever says...
9:54am Sun 23 Oct 11

i have only one thing to ask, "Why?" Let me guess, if anybody intervenes, it contravenes his human rights???? Alternative lifestyle or not, with aspirations of being a cagefighter, that tells you everything that you need to know. Legalised thuggery and nothing else. The child and his family should respect the rules that the school have set and if they don't like it, tough!! I partially agree that name calling aint right but at the end of the day, the parents want to wobble their heads because quite frankly they don't give a s**t about how silly their son looks

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CHADWICK says...
1:29pm Mon 24 Oct 11

richiepooh wrote:
Sankey school should be ashamed. They are there to do a job and that is to teach children they have no other purpose in society. Since the style of hair has no bearing on this they need to butt out. Maybe they should look at the state some of their teachers think are suitable attire.
It's Penketh, which is almost in Widnes, not Sankey, which isn't.

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CHADWICK says...
1:32pm Mon 24 Oct 11

Pooreastender wrote:
Oh no. Not another parent standing on their "principles". If you want the child educated you have to abide by the rules of the school he attends. Otherwise send him to a public school and see whether his haircut is acceptable. By the way - it looks awful!
Totally agree P. Looks like they've set their standards high though, a cage fighter that can do tattoo's.

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CHADWICK says...
1:33pm Mon 24 Oct 11

moleogod wrote:
so what cut the doo off and give him a skin head. will that be ok for great sankey high school
Penketh, not Sankey (again)

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CHADWICK says...
1:35pm Mon 24 Oct 11

grey_man wrote:
Because they have a school to run not an anarchist collective. Next.
Like it !!!!

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CHADWICK says...
1:40pm Mon 24 Oct 11

lougel wrote:
Partridge, your just not getting this are you?If the boy's Headmaster came to School naked He would have broken the Law.If the boy himself came to School naked He would also be in breach of the Law. Under the Human Rights Act (which has now been passed as law in this Country) This boy has the right to wear his hair in any style he likes. That right cannot be taken away simply because he is on School premises, in short, Teachers can set rules but those rules cannot contradict the Law of the Land
Surely the parent/s sign an agreement to abide by school rules before their child starts.

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Northernsoul1 says...
11:29pm Mon 24 Oct 11

This went to the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. So out of curosity I looked at their website. At the time of writing there were 487 comments there. 10 were in favour of the boy and his family and 477 in favour of the school. I think that says it all. Either get his hair cut or move him on. The world has spoken.

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grey_man says...
10:45pm Tue 25 Oct 11

'I believe the students should be able to express themselves however they feel comfortable'

Exactly the problem with so many kids. Let's see how they get on expressing themselves however they like in front of an employer.

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Misspiggy34 says...
8:14pm Wed 26 Oct 11

I find it amusing that his mother says he doesn't have an attitude. I have seen the family dropping the kids off at school and they say goodbye by flicking the v's, lovely behaviour in front of young children. Also he was removed from Warrington Market on Wednesday as he was shooting pea shooters at people. He narrowly missed a baby in a pram. He was very vocal to the security guards.

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nozzer says...
1:58pm Thu 27 Oct 11

nice uniform...i assume it was his choice?

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LFC-JFT96-YNWA says...
7:54pm Thu 27 Oct 11

Article 2 of the First Protocol: Right to Education

No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.

KEY WORD IN THERE!
"PHILOSOPHICAL CONVICTIONS"

That means he has the right to wear his hair however he likes it, thats his way of life, i totaly side with the family's decisions, basically the school is saying he cant come to school looking like a punk, thats also denying him the freedom of expression, if thats how he wants to be, then let him, who are the school to say how his hair should be? Its up to him how he wants his hair, its the brain inside his head that matters, not the bloody hair growing on it!

Speaking from experience i know what its like, i had really long hair in high school, they were fine with that, then when i got dreadlocks basically the same thing happend to me, school gave up in the end and let me back in after a load of kickin off from my Mam n Dad, hopefully Penketh highs headteacher steps down off his high horse and realises people should be encouraged to be individual, God, its like Another Brick In The Wall innit? "When we grew up and went to school, there were certain teachers who would hurt the children anyway they could
by pouring their derision upon anything we did
exposing any weakness however carefully hidden by the kids."

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HulkHogan says...
8:13pm Thu 27 Oct 11

@ LFC – I think you are missing the point. The school is not denying the child an education, as it said it is happy to teach him in isolation. It is the parents that have decided to deny their own child this. It is nice to see a school setting standards, but the hair is not really the point. The fact is that the school has set a rule and this parent believes that her child should be exempt from it. If the school backs down, then how can they then say no to another child breaking another rule? What if a parent decided that their child wanted to express themselves by not wearing uniform and painting a skull on their face, would this be okay? In life, there are boundaries, some of which we do not agree with. Better to learn this now. In addition, the school is not denying him his freedom of expression, as he is free to attend another school, which accepts this, if he wishes. This child has the right to have his hair how he likes, but he does not have the right to attend this school. When he is older, he will still have the right to have his hair anyway he wants, but will not have the right to have a job that will not allow this type of haircut.

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